THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


SURVEYING 


FOR 


BEGINNERS 


J.  B.  DAVIS 

1895-1909 


ANN  ARBOR,  MICHIGAN 


1909 

5116 


The   Ann   Arbor   Press 


TA 


LIST  OF  WORK 

I.     Reading  Verniers. 

II.     Measuring  with  Steel  Tapes. 
Survey  of  a  triangle. 
Measuring  the  same  distance  eight  times. 

III.  Handling  Instruments. 

Transit.     Line  Staff. 

Level, 

Leveling  Rod. 

IV.  Survey  of  a  triangle  with  a  transit. 
Twenty  rod  readings  on  the  same  B.  M. 

V.     Reading  Angles.     Closing  the  horizon. 
•    Peg  Levels.     Short  circuit. 

VI.     Traverse  Survey.     Field  with  seven  sides. 
Peg  Levels.     Long  circuit. 

VII.     Traverse  Survey.    Computing  and  platting. 
Profile  Leveling. 

VIII.     Profile  and  Grade  Line. 
Staking  out  a  grade. 

IX.     Straight  Line. 

Staking  out  a  building. 


OUTFIT.     NOTICE. 

1.  Outfit  required. 
For  each  person : 

Reprints  and  pamphlets. 

Direction  of  a  Line.     ,  Recommended. 

Leveling  and  Earthwork. 

Town,  City,  and  Village  Plats.  Recommended. 

Transit.     Adjustments  and  Tests.  Recommended. 

Traverse  Surveying. 
Field  Note  Book,  like  sample. 
Lead  Pencil,  Faber,  No.  5,  red  hexagon. 
Eraser,  typewriter,  small. 
Cross  rule'd  paper,  for  platting. 
For  each  party : 

Wire  spikes,  6".  12 

Wire  lath  nails,  3d  fine.  *4  lb. 

Boy's  axe,  sharp. 
Marking  crayon. 

2.  Notice. 

Once  telling  is  enough. 

Parties  consist  of  two,  or  four,  persons,  ordinarily. 

Time  for  each  duty  will  be  limited. 

Shortcomings  to  be  made  up  outside  of  class  time,  and  with- 
out delay. 

Do  the  work  in  the  order  in  which  it  is  listed. 

Every  person  must  "Figure." 

Put  all  computations  in  field  note  book,  with  notes. 

No  loose  papers  allowed. 

Do  not  come  here  with  parts  of  the  notes  of  a  piece  of  work 
in  different  books.  Every  note  book  must  contain  them  all. 

Present  all  records,  maps,  and  drawings,  and  get  O.K.  or 
make  them  over  till  given  O.K. 

Late  comers  make  up  all  back  work  within  three  weeks,  or 
drop  out. 


6  OUTFIT.       XOTICK 

Instruments,  apparatus,  and  tools,  are  issued  on  die  check 
system.  Each  one  get  five  checks  from  the  instructor,  for 
which  a  charge  of  fifty  cents  is  made.  The  money  will  be 
returned  at  the  end  of  the  semester  upon  the  return  of  the 
checks.  A  check  is  left  for  each  article  issued.  The  checks 
are  returned  upon  the  return  of  the  articles  in  the  same 
condition  as  when  issued. 

No  playing  with  tools,  or  apparatus. 

Pay  for  all  losses  or  breakages. 

Report,  at  once,  all  losses,  breakages,  or  defects,  to  have 
them  made  good  in  time  for  the  next  work. 

Write  up  lecture  notes  with  neat  diagrams,  for  same,  using 
water-proof  ink. 

When  a  word,  or  a  sign,  is  not  understood,  look  it  up  then 
and  there,  in  a  dictionary,  or-  text  book,  or  inquire  of  a 
teacher  at  the  next  opportunity. 

We  do  not  teach  what  may  be  read  in  a  book,  without  aid. 

Learn  how  to  do  things  by  doing  them, — same  as  baseball 
is  learned.  "Practice  makes  perfect." 

Recitations  are  the  examination,  except  a  written  examina- 
tion upon  the  subjects  of  the  field  work. 

Review  Plane  Geometry  and  Plane  Trigonometry. 

Surveying  is  learned  by  study,  by  work,  and  by  practice, — 
not  by  merely  staying  'round  where  surveyors,  books,  and 
instruments  are. 

"It  is  better  not  to  know  so  many  things  than  it  is  to  know 
so  many  things  that  are  not  so." 

"You  can  find  eighteen  men  who  can  tell  how  to  do  a  thing 
where  you  can  find  one  who  can  do  it." 

— Josh  Billings. 

3.     Not  so. 

When  you  "See  it,"  you  know  it 

Something  will  prove  useful  which  is  written  down  carefully 
and  specifically,  with  order,  decorum,  and  diagrams,  in  a 
note-book,  and  then  laid  aside  and  forgotten. 

You  can  "laze"  around  at  the  beginning  of  the  semester 
and  make  up  for  it  by  cramming  towards  the  end. 


OUTFIT.      NOTICE  7 

One  can  get  along  here,  or  elsewhere,  as  an  engineer,  without 
being  able  to  write  plainly,  make  neat  figures,  and  use 
with  facility,  some  style  of  plain  lettering. 

A  surveyor  can  "establish"  a  landmark  or  a  boundary. 

A  "true"  meridan, — a  "magnetic"  meridan. 

The  "declination"  of  the  magnetic  needle. 

"Printing"  a  statement  in  a  book  makes  it  true. 

4.  An  engineer  should  be  able  to 

Measure  a  distance. 

Measure  an  angle. 

Keep  notes. 

Run  a  traverse. 

Run  a  straight  line. 

Take  levels. 

Make  computations. 

Make  maps  and  drawings. 

Write  a  report. 

Take  care  of  instruments. 

Use  a  needle  compass,  some. 

Lay  out  a  curve. 

Oversee  equipment. 

5.  A  survey  consists  of 

The  field  work. 

The  field  notes. 

The  calculations. 

The  permanent  record. 

Unless  what  each  of  these  items  implies  is  completed  in  a 
thorough  and  workmanlike  manner,  the  survey  will  be  im- 
perfect, and  usually  inadequate.  Such  surveys  commonly 
prove  to  be  both  unsatisfactory  and  expensive. 

6.  The  Field  Work  comprises  many  kinds  of  operations  and 

labor. 

i.     Running  lines,  straight  or  curved,  and  marking  their  lo- 
cation with  stake?,  or  otherwise. 


8  OUTFIT.       NOTICE 

2.  Measuring  distances,  with  a  chain,  tape,  stadia,  or  other 
device. 

3.  Finding  the  direction  of  a  line. 

4.  Measuring  angles,  with  a  divided  circle,  a  steel  tape,  or 
other  means. 

v     Placing,    and   constructing,   monuments,    such   as    land- 
marks and  station  marks. 

6.  Getting  differences  of  elevation,  or  running  levels,  as  it 
is  called. 

7.  Making  bench  marks  for  the  levels. 

8.  Digging  for  old  landmarks. 

9.  Sounding. 

10.  Making  borings   for  showing  materials. 

11.  Gauging  of  streams. 

12.  Building  stations  for  triangulation. 

13.  Making  astronomical  observations. 
This  list  is  not  exhaustive,  only  illustrative. 

7.  The  Field  Notes  are  made  in  the  field.  They  are  a  plain, 
orderly,  neat,  and  complete,  record  of  the  field  work,  and 
attendant  conditions,  circumstances,  and  facts,  made  ac- 
cording to  the  directions  below. 

1.  Mark  name  and  number  of  party  neatly  and  plainly,  at 
top  right  hand  side  of  first  outside  cover  of  note-book. 

2.  Number  leaves  of  note-book,  if  not  numbered. 

3.  Select  a  brief  and  comprehensive  title.     Enter  this  title 
at  top  of  every  new  page  to  be  used  for  notes. 

4.  Enter  the  date  on  every  page  of  notes,  and  at  beginning 
of  notes  of  each  day's  work. 

5.  Note  instruments  used,  and  any  special  tools,  or  appa- 
ratus, on  each  leaf  of  note  book. 

6.  Record  the  place  where  work  is  done. 

7.  Write  an  explanation  of  the  object  of  the  work,  if  not 
apparent  from  the  title  or  the  notes  themselves. 

8.  Write  the  name,  position,  and  duty,  of  every  person  who 
does  any  part  of  the  field  work. 


OL'TFIT.       XOT1CK  9 

9.  Make  a  plain,  full,  complete,  orderly,  and  unmistakable, 
record  of  every  thing  done,  every  fact  ascertained,  and 
the  evidence  and  witnesses  therefor.  Record  what  is 
seen,  without  alteration,  computation,  or  modification. 
Set  down  every  act,  or  fact,  at  once.  Trust  nothing 
whatever  to  memory. 

10.  At  the  bottom  of  each  page  of  notes  place  the  signature 
of  the  recorder, — also  at  the  end  of  the  record  of  each 
day's  work. 

11.  When  the  notes  of  any  work  are  in  different  parts  of 
the  book,  write,  at  the  beginning  of  the  record  at  every 
place  in  the  book,  a  reference  to  the  place  where  the  pre- 
ceeding  notes  ended,  and  at  the  end  of  every  record  a 
note  of  the  place  where  the  record  is  continued.     The 
same  applies  to  records  contained  in  different  books. 

12.  When  the  note  book  is  filled,  enter  a  title  on  the  outside 
of  the  front  cover,  with  the  dates  of  beginning  and  end- 
ing the  records  therein. 

13.  Make,  and  enter,  an  index  in  the  book,  if  needed. 

8.  The  Calculations  are  generally  made  in  the  office,  though 
many  minor  ones  are  made  in  the  field,  especially  in  land 
and  railroad  surveying  and  in  staking  out  works.  When 
made  in  the  field  they  should  be  spread  on  the  pages  of 
the  field  note  book  in  an  orderly  manner,  as  part  of  the 
field  notes.  In  any  case,  if  the  calculations  are  relatively 
brief,  they  should  be  entered  in  the  field  note  book  imme- 
diately following,  or,  by  cross  references,  immediately  in 
connection  with,  the  field  records  and  the  results  made  a 
part  of  those  records.  More  extensive  and  elaborate  cal- 
culations require  a  system  adapted  to  the  work,  but,  in 
general,  the  figures  and  results  should  be  carefully  pre- 
served in  a  well  kept  record.  What  is  known  in  the  trade 
as  the  Standard  Figuring  Book  may  lie  useful.  The  page 
is  9"xi2"  cross  ruled  in  }/\"  squares.  The  calculations 
must  be  completed  in  order  to  obtain  the  results  and  fulfill 
the  purposes  for  which  the  survey  was  made. 


10  OUTFIT.      NOTICE 

9.  The  Permanent  Record  preserves  the  results  of  the  previ- 

ous labors  as  well  as  completes  the  survey.  It  may  consist 
of  only  a  field  note  book,  suitably  reviewed,  indexed  and 
marked ;  or  there  may  be  elaborate  reports  accompanied 
by  fine  maps,  with  detailed  plans,  and  estimates.  It  all 
depends  upon  the  kind,  extent,  and  purpose  of  the  survey. 

Here  should  be  read  Appendix  "G"  of  Johnson's  Surveying, 
this  being  Professor  Raymond's  paper  on  what  constitutes 
a  survey. 

10.  Maps  and  Plats  should  contain 

1.  Map,  or  plat,  properly  drawn  and  lettered, — not  a  scrawl, 
or  fragment. 

2.  Border. 

3.  Title. 

4.  Scale.    A  linear  scale,  if  to  be  reproduced. 

5.  Direction  mark.     Meridian  and  azimuth. 

6.  Explanations,  if  needed. 

7.  Party  who  made  the  survey. 

8.  Draftsman's  name. 

9.  Dates.    Of  survey.    Of  map. 

-  10.     Designations  of  stations,  land  marks,  and  notable  points 

of  survey. 
n.     Line  of  reference. 

12.  Dimensions.      All    in    one    unit    ordinarily.      Distances. 
Depths,     Sizes.    Elevations. 

13.  Angles.     Azimuths.     Bearings. 

14.  Names  of  objects.     Such  are,  rivers,  streets,  places,  land 
owners,  buildings. 

15.  Sketches.     Illustrations. 

1 6.  Results.     Such  are,  areas,  amounts,  quantities,  volumes. 

17.  Authority  for  making.     Often  may  be  part  of  title. 

18.  Location  ;  including  state,  or  country  ;  district  or  county  ; 
township,  village,  or  city ;  and  name  of  locality ;  any,  or 
all.  of  these,  or  similar  terms,  that  may  be  necessary  to 
designate  unmistakably   the   position   of   the   survey   on 
f1ve  ground.    Often  may  be  included  in  sub  title. 


OUTFIT.      NOTICE  1 I 

19.  If  on  more  than  one  sheet,  put  on  each  the  whole  num- 
ber of  sheets  and  its  own  number,  thus, ....  sheets. 
Sheet  No 

The  sheets  should  be  made  to  be  read  from  the  bottom  and 
right  hand  side. 

A  standard  size  for  sheets  should  be  used  on  any  survey  of 
considerable  extent  wherever  it  is  practicable  to  employ 
such. 

Things  shown  should  be  given  proper  relative  prominence, — 
not  one  of  them,  as  the  title,  or  draftsman's  name,  over- 
shadowing all  the  rest.  This  is  the  primary  requisite  of 
good  map  making.  Consult;  good  atlases,  such  as  the 
Century  Atlas ;  U.  S.  Charts ;  Reports  of  U.  S.  Coast  and 
Geodetic  Survey ;  Maps  of  U.  S.  Geological  Survey ;  pub- 
lished drawings ;  and  books  for  the  guidance  of  drafts- 
men. Note  the  breadths  of  lines  used,  and  measure,  and 
compare,  the  heights  of  letters. 

Maps  and  plats  should  plainly  show: 

1.  What  they  were  made  for. 

2.  What  they  represent. 

3.  Where  the  things  represented  are. 

4.  When  they  were  made. 

5.  Where  they  were  made. 

6.  Who  they  were  made  by. 

7.  What  the  authority  was  for  making  them,  if  made  by 
the  order  of  some  official,  under  any  Act  of  Congress, 
statute,  ordinance,  or  order  of  a  court. 

11.  Reports  should  follow  the  same  general  lines  as  the  field 
notes  and  maps.  Consult  the  reports  of  notable  surveys, 
such  as  that  of  the  Deep  Water  Ways  Commission,  or  the 
reports  of  individual  engineers  of  standing  relative  to  pro- 
posed works,  as  that  of  Mr.  Joseph  Ripley,  U.  S.  Ass't 
Eng'r  on  the  connection  of  Birmingham,  Ala.,  with  the 
Black  Warrior  River,  by  canal,  which  may  be  found  in  the 
Reports  of  the  Chief  of  Engineers  U.  S.  A. 


I.     READING  VERNIERS. 


INFORMATION. 

12.  A  vernier,  in  general,  is  a  device  for  indicating  certain  frac- 

tional parts  of  one  of  the  equal  spaces,  or  divisions 
of  a  graduated  line.  The  graduated  line  may  be  straight, 
as  on  a  scale,  or  a  leveling  rod,  or  it  may  be  curved,  as 
on  the  plate  of  a  transit.  The  vernier  itself  is  a  short 
scale  of  equal  parts,  straight  or  curved  to  fit  the  grad- 
uated line  to  which  it  applies. 

See  what  is  the  value  of  a  space  on  the  scale,  or  circle,  to 
which  the  vernier  applies. 

Place  the  vernier  so  two  marks  on  it  match,  or  are  in  exact 
'line  with,  two  marks  on  the  scale  or  circle.  Count  the 
spaces  on  the  vernier  between  these  two  marks. 

Divide  the  value  of  a  space  on  the  scale,  or  circle,  by  this 
number. 

The  quotient  will  be  the  least  reading  of  the  vernier. 

13.  To  read  a  vernier,  see  where  the  zero  line,  or  index,  of  the 

vernier  points.  If  this  index,  or  line,  matches  a  line  on 
the  scale,  or  circle,  that  line  on  the  scale,  or  circle,  will 
show  the  reading  of  the  circle,  or  scale,  at  once,  without 
the  aid  of  the  vernier.  If  the  index  of  the  vernier  does 
not  match  a  line  on  the  scale,  or  circle,  look  along  the  scale, 
or  circle,  in  the  direction  in  which  the  reading  is  to  be 
taken,  and  note  the  reading  of  the  scale,  or  circle,  shown 
by  the  line  next  preceding  the  index  of  the  vernier.  Look 
along  the  vernier  and  find  a  line  on  it  which  matches  a 
line  on  the  scale,  or  circle.  Note  the  number  of  divisions 
of  the  vernier  between  this  line  and  its  index  or  zero  line. 
Multiply  this  number  by  the  least  reading  of  the  vernier 
to  get  that  part  of  the  whole  reading  which  is  given  by 
the  vernier.  This  multiplication  is  commonly  done  un- 


I.       RKADINO    VKRMICKS  13 

consciously  by  means  of  the  mechanical  aids  supplied  for 
reading  the  vernier.  Add,  or  annex,  the  vernier  reading 
to  the  scale,  or  circle,  reading,  previously  noted,  to  get  the 
full  reading,  up  to  the  index  of  the  vernier. 

When  looking  for  the  mark  on  the  vernier  which  matches 
a  mark  on  the  scale,  or  circle,  observe  one  or  two  marks 
on  the  vernier  each  way  from  the  one  supposed  to  match 
with  a  mark  on  the  scale,  or  circle.  These  marks  should 
mismatch  the  marks  on  the  scale,  or  circle,  equal  amounts, 
in  opposite  directions,  when  at  equal  distances  from  the 
mark  which  is  supposed  to  match  precisely.  Thus  make 
sure  which  mark  on  the  vernier  it  is  that  really  matches 
precisely  with  a  mark  on  the  scale,  or  circle.  When  no 
mark  on  the  vernier  really  matches  precisely  with  a  mark 
on  the  scale,  or  circle,  the  actual  reading  of  the  vernier 
may  be  obtained  to  one-half,  or  even  one-third,  of  its 
least  reading,  -by  observing  the  marks  on  the  vernier  in 
the  manner  described. 

Useful  ways  of  applying  and  reading  verniers  are  to  be 
learned  by  experience. 


I.     READING  VERNIERS. 

PRACTICE. 

14.    Directions. 

Ascertain  and  record  the  least  reading  of  each  vernier. 

Take  and  properly  record  twenty  full  readings  of  each. 

See  50  for  samples  of  vernier  readings. 

Total  number  of  all  vernier  readings  is  180. 

Should  be  taken  up  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  namer?. 

Leveling  Rods. 

Boston.     New  York.     Troy.     Philadelphia. 

Short  rod  and  long  rod, — ten  readings  of  each. 
Railroad  Compass,  or  Transits  1884,  or  1885,  or  the  like. 
Transit  1382,  or  1383,  or  1384,  or  the  like. 

Plate.     Vertical  Circle. 
Transit  4838,  or  the  like. 

Plate.     Vertical  Circle. 


II.     MEASURING  WITH  STEEL  TAPES. 


INFORMATION. 

15.  A  steel  tape  measuring  set  includes  the  articles  named 
below : 

A  one  hundred  feet  steel  tape,  with  but  a  few  marks  on  it, 
and  its  reel. 

Two  handles  for  the  one  hundred  feet  steel  tape, — split  sticks, 
3"  long,  will  do. 

A  fifty  feet  steel  tape,  divided  to  hundredths  of  a  foot,  in 
its  case. 

Two  brass  I  Ib.  plump  bobs,  with  strings. 

Eleven  6"  wire  spikes. 

An  axe. 

Line  staves  may  be  needed  for  ranging  lines. 

Find  where  the  end  marks  for  distance  are  on  both  tapes. 
This  must  be  done  before  correct  measurements  can  be 
made.  The  ends  of  the  100  ft.  tape  often  do  not  indicate 
its  length,  there  being  an  extra  1/25  to  1/50  of  steel  rib- 
bon at  each  end.  The  zero  of  the  50  ft.  tape  may  be  found 
by  turning  the  end  of  the  tape  back ;  matching  the  I  ft. 
mark  to  some  other  foot  mark  on  the  tape ;  smoothing  out 
the  loose  end  beside  the  tape ;  and  noticing  on  it,  exactly 
where  the  next  foot  mark  fits,  at,  or  near,  the  free  end. 

Keep  the  steel  tapes  wound  up, — as  much  of  the  time  as 
possible,  and  get  the  work  done. 

Wind  any  steel  tape  so  the  figures  are  within  the  coils,  and 
with  the  zero  at  the  free  end. 

The  zero  end  of  a  tape  goes  ahead,  when  measuring. 

The  100  ft.  tape  is  taken  off  of  its  reel  and  a  handle  slipped 
on  each  end  of  it  when  marking  a  tape  length.  The  han- 
dle at  the  forward,  or  zero,  end,  should  not  slip  off  from 
the  tape  of  itself.  The  handle  at  the  rear,  or  100  ft.,  end, 
should  slip  off  very  easily,  because  it  should  be  taken  off 
when  the  tape  is  drawn  forward. 


II.      MEASURING  WITH  STEEL  TAPES  15 

Jf  the  100  ft.  tape  has  been  mended,  test  the  spaces  between 
the  marks  on  it  by  comparison  with  a  standard,  or  with 
corresponding  spaces  marked  by  small  wire  nails  in  stakes 
driven  in  the  ground  till  firm,  and  having  their  tops  all  at 
nearly  the  same  elevation.  The  spaces  between  the  wire 
nails  may  be  laid  off  with  the  50  ft.  tape. 

Make  a  table  of  the  correct  total  distances  from  the  zero  of 
the  loo  ft.  tape  to  each  of  the  marks  on  it.  Use  this  table 
in  recording  measurements  with  this  100  ft.  tape. 

Two  men  make  the  measurements,  one  at  each  end  of  the 
tape. 

Call  the  one  at  the  zero  end  the  Leader,  as  he  goes  ahead, 
and  the  other  the  Follower. 

The  follower  is  responsible  for  the  correctness  of  all  meas- 
urements. 

The  leader  must  watch  and  aid  in  every  way  he  can  to  make 
coirect  measurements.  Errors  are  not  tolerated. 

In  following  a  line  both  should  keep  the  line  by  referring 
its  range  to  some  object  beyond  the  other.  While  meas- 
uring, both  should  be  on  the  watch  for  other  objects  on 
the  range  of  the  line,  as  usually,  owing  to  the  lay  of  the 
ground,  the  same  object  cannot  be  used  to  range  by  for 
any  considerable  distance.  Both  men  should  know  the 
exact  range  of  the  line  at  all  times,  if  possible.  When 
starting,  the  follower  puts  the  leader  exactly  in  line,  where- 
upon the  leader  selects  an  object  on  the  range  and  beyond 
the  place  the  measurement  starts  from.  As  they  move 
forv/ard  the  follower  ordinarily  directs  the  leader  on  to 
the  line  as  each  tape  length  is  marked,  but  the  leader  should 
carefully  observe  whether,  by  his  own  marks,  he  is  on  the 
line,  or  not. 

Before  beginning  a  measurement,  the  follower  counts  the 
spikes,  and  lays  one  beside  the  mark  from  which  the  meas- 
urement is  to  proceed.  He  hands  the  others  to  the  leader 
and  says  "Ten !"  The  leader  counts  them  and  says  "Ten  !" 
In  this  way  they  make  sure  of  starting  with  the  right  num- 
ber of  spikes,  and  with  ten  of  them  in  the  hands  of  the 
leader.. 


II.      MEASURING  WITH  STEEL  TAPES 

Draw  out  the  tape  the  full  length  with  the  zero  end  ahead, 
and  about  on  line. 

Leader  take  the  zero  end  in  hand,  and  put  on  his  handle. 

Follower  slip  his  handle  on  the  100  ft.  end,  and  bring  the 
100  ft.  mark  about  to  the  mark  to  be  measured  from. 

Follower  directs  leader  accurately  into  line,  and  shows  the 
leader  the  mark  from  which  the  measurement  is  to  pro- 
ceed. 

Leader  takes  the  range  of  the  line  carefully,  and  finds  some 
object,  if  possible,  on  the  range  beyond  the  follower.  If 
such  an  object  cannot  be  found  leave  a  picket  just  back  of 
the  mark  to  be  measured  from,  set  exactly  on  the  range 
of  the  line.  A  picket  may  be  a  stick  of  suitable  length. 

Leader  draws  up  the  tape  ready  to  measure. 

Follower  holds  100  ft.  mark  exactly  to  the  mark  to  be  meas- 
ured from,  and  directs  the  leader  to  hold  the  zero  end  of 
the  tape  exactly  in  line. 

Leader  pulls  15  or  20  Ibs.  on  the  tape. 

Follower  looks  once  more  at  the  100  ft.  mark  on  the  tape 
and  .sees  that  it  is  exactly  at  the  mark  to  be  measured 
from  and  that  the  zero  end  of  the  tape  is  on  line. 

When  both  men  are  satisfied  that  the  conditions  are  favor- 
able for  a  trustworthy  measurement, — that  is,  both  are 
"Ready," — the  follower  says  "Ready,"  "Right,"  ''All  right 
here."  "Mark,"  or  any  useful  form  of  words. 

Leader  marks  the  place  on  the  ground  even  with  the  zero 
mark  on  the  tape,  being-  careful  not  to  release  the  tension, 
and  to  keep  exactly  in  line.  The  mark  may  be  the  center 
of  a  spike  stuck  into  the  ground  so  as  to  stand  firm,  a 
scratch  with  the  point  of  a  spike,  the  point  of  a  spike, 
carefully  placed,  or  any  other  suitable  mark. 

Leader  leave  a  spike  at  this  mark. 

Test  the  measurement  by  one  or  more  trials  after  the  mark 
at  the  zero  end  of  the  tape  is  made,  until  satisfied  that  uie 
mark  is  correct  for  both  distance  and  line. 

Follower  slips  off  his  handle  quickly,  letting  go  the  rear  end 
of  the  tape,  and  picks  up  the  spike  at  the  mark  from  which 
ibe  measurement  proceeds. 


11.       MEASURING   WITH   STKlCt,  TAPKS  1 7 

Leader  draws  the  tape  forward  100  ft.  on  the  line. 

Follower  advances  to  the  spike  left  by  the  leader  where  he 
arrives  about  the  time  90  ft.  of  the  tape  have  pasesd  the 
spike.  He  picks  up  the  tape,  lets  it  run  through  his  hands 
till  the  100  ft.  end  is  almost  in  hand,  when  he  calls  "Hold," 
or  "Halt,"  to  the  leader,  and  quickly  slips  on  his  handle. 

Leader  stops,  and  the  tape  is  placed  about  on  line. 

Follower  holds  the  100  ft.  mark  to  the  spike  and  the  oper- 
ations for  marking  the  first  tape  length  are  repeated  till 
both  are  satisfied  the  work  is  correct. 

Follower  slips  off  his  handle,  takes  up  the  spike  where  he  is, 
and  they  proceed  as  before. 

Thus  continue  until  the  leader  has  put  down  five  spikes. 
While  going  forward  to  place  the  sixth  spike  the  follower 
counts  the  spikes  he  has  and  calls  "Five"  to  the  leader, 
who  counts  those  he  has  and  answers  "Five."  They  thus 
verify  the  count  without  delay.  Leave  a  mark  in  place  of 
the  fifth  spike. 

Unless  each  has  "Five,"  review  the  work  and  correct  the 
errors. 

Continue  the  measurement  as  before  until  the  leader  has  put 
down  his  last  spike.  He  calls  "Out"  to  the  follower,  and 
stands  by  the  last  spike. 

Follower  slips  off  his  handle,  takes  up  the  spike  where  he  is, 
and  goes  forward,  counting  the  spikes  he  has.  He  hands 
them  to  the  leader  and  says  "Ten." 

Leader  counts  the  spikes  given  him  and  says  "Ten." 

Here  the  count  is  verified  and  any  errors  found  must  be 
corrected.  For  this  purpose  the  mark  left  in  place  of  the 
fifth  spike  will  make  it  necessary  to  remeasure  but  five 
tape  lengths  instead  of  ten,  or  more. 

The  eleventh  spike  keeps  the  measurement  while  the  spikes 

0  change  hands,  the  count  is  verified,  and  errors:  found  and 
corrected.  The  measurement  proceeds  from  the  eleventh 
spike  and  the  follower  takes  it  up  only  after  the  spike  next 
beyond  it  is  set, — the  same  as  he  took  up  the  spike  at  the 
starting  mark. 

"Record  flic  "Tfllly"  of  ten  tape  length?. 


1 8  II.      MEASURING  WITH  STZKL,  TAPfJS 

So  continue  until  a  spike  is  set  less  than  50  ft.  from  the  mark 
the  measurement  proceeds  to.  This  spike  may  come  before 
reaching  that  mark  or  beyond  it. 

Follower  slip  off  his  handle,  take  up  the  spike  where  lie- 
is,  count  the  spikes  he  then  has,  and  call  the  number, — 
as  "Three," — to  the  leader. 

Leader  count  the  spikes  he  has  and  answer  with  the  num- 
ber,— as  "Seven." 

Each  retain  the  spikes  he  has  and  leave  the  one  last  set  ii1 
the  ground. 

The  sum  of  the  numbers  each  has  must  be  ten.  If  not,  re- 
view the  work  and  correct  the  errors. 

The  spikes  the  follower  has  show  the  number  of  tape  lengths 
the  last  spike  set  is  past  tally  mark,  or  from  the  place 
where  the  measurement  began  if  less  than  ten  tape  lengths 
away. 

Measure  from  the  spike  last  set  to  the  mark  the  measurement 
proceeds  to,  using  the  50  ft.  tape.  Leader  take  the  zero 
end  of  it  and  follower  read  the  tape.  Wind  up  this  tape. 

Record  the  total  number  of  tape  lengths,  or  hundreds  of 
feet,  as  shown  by  the  number  of  tallies  passed  and  tlv 
number  of  spikes  the  follower  has. 

Record  the  measurement  made  with  the  50  ft.  tape. 

Add  the  latter  to  the  former,  or  subtract  it  therefrom,  on 
the  page  of  the  note  book,  and  make  a  record  of  the  dis- 
tance between  the  two  marks  the  measurement  was  made 
to  obtain. 

Follower  take  up  the  eleventh  spike. 

Follower  take  all  the  spikes,  count  them,  place  one  at  the 
mark  measured  to,  give  the  others  to  the  leader  and  say 
"Ten." 

Both  must  agree  as  to  the  count. 

Proceed  with  the  measurement  of  the  next  line  as  the  first 
was  measured. 

Thus  continue  the  work,  at  will. 

Stand  at  the  side  of  a  steel  tape  to  get  distance,  to  read  the 
tape,  or  to  hold  a  mark  on  it  even  with  another  mark. 

Stand  on,  or  look  along,  a  line,  to  give,  or  get.  line. 


I!.       MKASTKI-Nf.   WITH    STKKI.  TAl'KS  19 

16.  All  measurements  must  be  level.     Hold  the  two  ends  of 

the  tape  at  the  same  elevation.  Use  the  plumb  bob  to 
mark  the  point  on  the  ground  even  with  the  mark  on  the 
tape.  Measure  down  sloping  ground  if  the  descent  is  more 
then  two  per  cent,  on  the  best  work.  If  the  slope  is  too 
steep  for  the  easy  use  of  the  whole  tape,  use  it  by  parts, 
as  directed  below.  Where  there  are  several  slopes  along 
a  line,  descending  in  opposite  directions,  begin  at  the  top 
of  each  and  let  the  separate  mcaursements  meet  in  the  de- 
pressions, or  valleys,  between. 

17.  In  measuring  down  a  slope,  draw  out  the  whole  tape  along 

the  line  as  if  on  level  ground.  Leader  raise  up  the  tape 
and,  by  direction  of  the  follower  lay  it  as  nearly  as  may 
be  exactly  on  the  line.  Hold  the  100  ft.  mark  at  the  mark 
where  the  measurement  begins,  as  before  directed.  Leader 
pick  up  the  tape  at  any  convenient  place,  where  it  will  not 
be  difficult  to  hold  that  place  up  at  the  same  elevation  as 
the  100  ft.  mark.  This  place  may  not  be  at  a  mark  on 
the  tape,  but  it  is  better  to  use  u  regular  mark  on  the  tape 
if  practicable. 

Leader  take  his  stand  beside  the  tape  so  the  hand  and  arm 
used  to  draw  the  tape  taut  will  pass  across  the  front  of  his 
body,  in  an  easy  and  comfortable  position,  steadying  him- 
self by  pulling  the  tape  taut,  and  leaving  his  other  hand 
and  arm  free  to  handle  the  plumb  bob  and  string.  The 
follower  can  easily  hold  against  the  pull  of  the  leader,  a> 
he  will  be  holding  the  100  ft.  mark  at,  or  near,  the  ground. 
The  leader  will  be  out  of  line  when  beside  the  tape. 

Leader  hold  the  bob  string  at  the  exact  point,  or  mark,  on 
the  tape  to  be  used  in  this  piece  measurement.  With  this 
place,  or  mark,  held  at  the  proper  elevation  and  on  line, 
let  the  bob  run  down  nearly  to  the  ground  and  find  where 
the  mark  to  be  made  on  the  ground  will  come.  Clear  off 
the  ground.  Smooth  the  surface,  if  need  be.  Hold  the 
place  on  the  tape  from  which  the  bob  string  hangs,  at  dif- 
ferent heights,  and,  by  trial,  find  the  height  at  which  the 
piece  of  tape  being  used  will  mark  the  longest  distance 


on  the  ground.  Nip  the  string  tightly  to  the  tape  to  show 
how  much  string  to  use. 

Follower  direct  the  leader  to  hold  the  bob  exactly  on  line, — 
the  place  where  the  string  is  being  at  the  proper  height, 
found  as  above  directed. 

When  both  men  are  satisfied  the  conditions  are  favorable  for 
a  trustworthy  measurement, — the  tape  being  at  a  suitable 
tension  and  the  plumb  bob  hanging  steady  and  almost  to 
the  ground, — the  leader  lower  his  hands  slightly,  without 
releasing  any  of  the  tension,  till  the  point  of  the  bob 
touches  the  ground.  Leader  says  "Right."  carefully  nip- 
ping the  bob  string  at  the  exact  place  on  the  tape.  Fol- 
lower let  his  end  of  the  tape  move  forward  to  give  the 
leader  some  slack.  Leader  mark  the  place  on  the  ground 
where  the  point  of  the  bob  touched. 

Verify  this  mark  by  further  trials,  made  with  care,  until 
both  are  satisfied  the  mark  on  the  ground  is.  correct  for 
line  and  distance. 

Follower  slip  off  his  handle,  pick  up  the  spike,  where  lie 
is,  and  advance  to  the  leader. 

Leader  deliver  into  the  hand  of  the  follower  the  exact  place, 
or  mark,  on  the  tape  where  the  bob  string  is.  This  may  be 
done  by  the  follower  placing  his  thumb  nail  from  the  100 
ft.  side  against  the  thumb  nail  of  the  leader  from  the  zero 
side,  and  nipping  the  tape  securely,  where  no  regular 
mark  was  used. 

Follower  hold  this  exact  place,  or  mark,  to  the  mark  made 
beneath  it  on  the  ground. 

Leader  take  up  any  other  succeeding  convenient  part  of  the 
tape  and  measure  it  off  on  the  ground  with  the  same  care, 
precautions,  and  tests,  as  before,  for  both  line  and  distance. 

Follower  advance  to  leader. 

Leader  deliver  his  place,  or  mark,  to  follower. 

Continue  these  piece  measurements  on   out  to  the  zero  of 

the  tape. 
Here  leave  a  spike  as  usual. 


ii.     MI-,.\SI:KI.\G  \vrni  STKKI.  T.MT.S  21 

Keep  the  marks  on  the  ground  in  any  convenient  way.  J£ 
spikes  must  be  used,  let  the  leader  take  one  from  the  fol- 
lower for  every  one  he  puts  down  between  the  100  ft.  and" 
zero  marks  of  the  tape,  at  the  time  he  delivers  to  the  fol- 
lower the  intermediate  places,  or  marks,  he  uses.  An- 
other size  of  nails  may  be  used  to  mark  with  between  the 
ends  of  the  tape  length. 

Both  men  count  the  spikes  they  have  at  the  end  of  every 
tape  length  where  the  measuring  is  difficult  and  see  that 
each  has  his  proper  number, — both  together  having  ten. 

Continue  the  measurement  at  will. 

By  the  method  above  outlined,  a  tape  length  is  laid  off  with- 
out any  adding  of  pieces.  The  tape  does  the  adding  and 
will  make  no  mistakes.  It  is  better  to  use  marks  on  the 
tape,  if  practicable,  to  designate  the  piece  measurements, 
as  they  are  less  liable  to  be  lost  sight  of,  and  can  be  easily 
recovered  if  such  is  the  case. 

Be  especially  particular  to  keep  these  short  parts  of  the  tape 
on  the  line.  Slight  linear  deviations  give  larger  errors  on 
short  measures  than  on  the  whole  tape  length.  It  is  much 
more  difficult  to  keep  the  line  on  rough  ground. 

Ground  may  be  so  steep,  rough,  and  covered  with  obstruc- 
tions,— rocks,  logs,  rubbish,  hillocks, — that  the  measure- 
ment must  be  made  with  a  board  not  over  ten  feet  long, 
having  straight  parallel  edges  and  marked  with  feet  and 
half  feet  marks.  The  ground  marks  must  be  kept  on 
stakes.  The  board  must  be  kept  level  with  a  carpenter's 
level,  or  some  similar  devise, — bubble  tubes  may  be  set  in 
the  edge  of  the  board  itself,  and  adjusted  by  reversion  on 
two  stakes  driven  in  the  ground.  The  line  must  be  kept 
by  a  transit,  at,  or  beyond,  the  foot  of  the  slope,  the  meas- 
uring proceeding  towards  the  transit.  The  mark  on  the 
lower  stake  may  be  made  by  a  heavy,  4  or  5  Ibs.,  plumb 
bob  with  a  carefully  adjusted  point, — a  millwright's  bob 
might  do, — or  an  accurate  plumb  rule  used.  There  must 
be  no  wind.  The  piece  measurements  must  be  recorded 
as  made,  at  their  actual  value,  and  added.  If  stakes  must 
be  set  at  equal  intervals  they  must  be  placed  by  adding  the 
proper  piece  measurements  at  the  right  places. 


22  II.       .MKASUK1NC,    \VlTil    STKKJ,  TAl'KS 

18.  Measuring  up  a  slope  is  similarly  done.  On  the  better 
class  of  work,  avoid  it,  as  it  is  especially  liable  to  error. 
Only  men  of  much  experience  should  attempt  it. 


II.     MEASURING  WITH  STEEL  TAPES. 


FIELD  WORK. 

19.  Measuring  set. 

One  hundred  feet  steel  tape  and  reel. 

Handles  for  same. 

Fifty  feet  steel  tape  in  its  case. 

Plumb  bobs,  with  lines, — two. 

Six-inch  wire  spikes, — eleven. 

Axe.     Stakes, — four. 

Line  staves  may  be  needed  for  ranging  lines. 
Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  be  liable  for  defects  found 

upon  their  return. 

20.  Inspection  of  Plumb  Bobs. 

Look  for  the  string, 
the  point, 
the  cap, 
dents,  and 
evidences  of  abuse. 

21.  Inspection  of  Steel  Tapes, — 50  ft.,  or  short  tapes. 

Unwind  the  tape. 

See  if  the  tape  is  wound  wrong  side  in. 
See  if  the  reel  works  right. 
Look  for  the  box, 

tape  loose  from  reel, 

breaks,  splits,  cracks,  or  kinks,  in  tape 

dirt, 

moisture, 

rust, 


II.      MEASURING  WITH  STEEL  TAPES  23 

screw  holding  reel  in  box, 
reel  handle, 
knob  on  reel  handle, 
dents,  or  bends,  in  box,  and 
evidences  of  abuse. 

22.  Inspection  of  Steel  Tapes, — 100  ft.,  or  long  tapes. 

Unwind  the  tape. 

See  if  the  tape  is  wound  wrong  side  in. 
See  if  the  reel  works  right. 
Look  for  the  reel, 

breaks,  splits,  cracks,  or  kinks,  in  tape. 

dirt, 

moisture, 

rust, 

numbers  on  tape. 

tape  handles, 

reel  handle, 

parts  of  reel, 

dents,  or  bends,  in  reel,  and 

evidences  of  abuse. 

23.  Inspection  of  Line  Staves. 

Look  for  bends, 
scratches, 

damaged  points,  and 
evidences  of  abuse. 

24.  Reminders. 

Tf  the  100  ft.  tape  has  been  mended,  test  the  spaces  marked 

on  it. 

Keep  the  tapes  wound  up, — figures  inside. 
The  zero  end  of  a  tape  goes  ahead. 
Count  the  spikes  as  directed  . 

Verify  the  count  between  the  fifth  and  sixth  spikes. 
The  spikes  the  follower  has  show  the  distance  past  the  last 

tallv  mark. 


24  II.      MEASURING  WITH  STKKf.  TAI'T.S 

Verify  the  count  at  the  last  spike  set. 

Do  not  pull  up  the  last  spike  till  the  record  is  made. 

Record  the  number  of  even  hundreds  of  feet. 

Record  the  distance  measured  with  the  fifty  feet  tape. 

25.    Survey  of  a  triangle,  about  450  by  250  feet. 


Area  =  ^/s  (^_a)  (S—b)  (s—c) 


26..   Instructions. 

On  rough  ground  mark  a  triangle  with  small  stakes,  A,  B, 
C,  so  that  AC  is,  by  estimation,  about  450  feet,  and  B  is, 
by  estimation,  about  250  feet  away  from  A  C.  Set  D 
anywhere  in  A  C.  Be  particular  to  place  D  exactly  on 
A  C.  Use  a  plumb  line  to  range  with. 

Witness  A,  B,  C,  and  D,  following  the  form  below. 

®  A.     A  nail  in  a  stake  driven  flush  with  the  ground,  stand- 
ing on  the  third  prominent  ridge  N.  of  the  Detroit  Ob- 
servatory, Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  from  which  a 
Witnesses.    Hickory,  12"  in  diameter,  bears  N.  about  55° 
E.  72/3  to  its  center,  and  a 

B.    Walnut  27"  bears  S.  about  35°  E.,  261/4  to  cen. 
•  Spike  in  root  of  Sycamore  32",  S.  about  45°  \V.,  47/I3- 

Spike,  E.  face  of  brick  wall  near  S.  E.  corner  of  barn,  N.W'ly, 
34/27. 

Measure  A  B,  B  C,  C  D,  D  A,  and  B  D.  Find  the  value  of 
d  from  the  above  equation.  Subtract  it  from  B  D,  meas- 
ured, and  show  the  error  -f-  or  —  .  Compute  the  area  in 
square  feet.  Reduce  this  to  acres.  Make  a  neat  plat  of 
the  triangle  to  scale,  on  the  cross  ruled  page  of  the  field 
note  book.  Record  all  of  these  matters  in  the  field  note 
book. 


II.       MEASURING  WITH  STEEL  TAPES  25 

27.  Measure  the  distance,  eight  times,  between  two  marks 
about  1000  feet  apart.  The  cement  walk  on  the  cast  side 
of  the  campus  is  about  1000  feet  long. 

Drive  two  stakes,  by  estimation,  about  1000  feet  apart,  on  a 
smooth  piece  of  ground.  Tops  of  stakes  flush  with  sur- 
face of  ground.  Drive  a  nail  in  each  stake.  Witness  each 
stake.  Set  up  a  line  staff  about  two  feet  beyond  each 
stake,  on  the  line  of  the  stakes,  and  standing  plumb. 

Measure  the  distance  carefully  between  the  two  nails.  Re- 
turn, measuring  the  distance  carefully,  with  the  same  per- 
son for  leader. 

Change  positions,  the  person  acting  as  follower  taking  the 
lead. 

Repeat  the  measurement,  out  and  back,  with  the  new  leader. 

Change  positions. 

Repeat  the  measurement,  out  and  back. 

Change  positio'ns. 

Repeat  the  measurement,  out  and  back. 

Record  the  measurements,  as  they  are  made,  showing  in  the 
book  who  is  leader  and  who  is  follower  for  each  one. 

Add  the  eight  measurements.  Divide  by  8.  Find  the  aver- 
age measurement. 

Subtract  each  measurement  from  the  average  measurement 
and  write  the  difference,  with  its  sign,  opposite  each  meas- 
urement, forming  a  column  of  "Errors." 

Add  the  errors.  See  if  the  sum  equals  zero.  If  not,  review 
the  calculations  and  correct  the  figures. 

Record  all  these  matters  in  the  field  note  book. 


III.     HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS. 

INFORMATION. 

28.    Transit. 

Observe  with  certainty  how  it  is  packed  in  its  box,  so  it  can 
be  properly  returned  to  its  place.  Do  not  unpack  it  and 
take  it  from  its  box  until  sure  it  can  be  put  back  precisely 
as  found. 

Examine  the  tripod.  See  that  no  parts  are  missing.  See 
that  all  the  shoes  on  the  free  ends  of  the  legs  are  tight. 
See  that  the  wing  nuts  that  clamp  the  legs  to  the  top  cast- 
ing all  have  washers,  and  will  clamp  the  legs  firmly  to  the 
casting.  If  a  tripod  is  set  up  to  receive  an  instrument  for 
use  in  making  observations,  the  legs  will  be  properly 
clamped  by  the  wing  nuts,  in  most  cases,  when  they  are 
tight  enough  so  as  to  just  be  held  in  position  at  the  usual 
slope,  without  dropping,  if  the  tripod  is  raised,  by  its  top, 
off  of  the  ground.  In  a  windy  time,  they  may  be  clamped 
tighter  to  steady  the  instrument.  See  that  the  screw  on 
the  neck  of  the  top  casting  is  in  good  order.  The  tripod 
being  in  order  set  it  up  on  the  floor,  or  the  ground,  to  re- 
ceive the  transit  when  unpacked. 

Many  common  transits  are  screwed  on  to  a  board  which 
slides  into  the  transit  box  with  the  transit  on  it.  Lift  the 
transit  bv  its  base,  or  its  plates,  not  by  its  standards,  transit 
axis,  or  telescope.  Set  the  board  in  a  secure  place, — orr 
top  of  the  box  will  often  do,  but  do  not  let  go  of  the  transit 
in  such  a  place.  Release  the  spindle  clamp.  Start  the 
screw  that  connects  the  transit  to  the  board.  Hold  the 
transit  with  one  hand  to  keep  it  from  falling,  and  with  the 
other  on  the  leveling  screws,  unscrew  the  transit  from  the 
board  by  turning  the  base  to  the  left.  In  this  manner  sep- 
arate the  transit  from  the  board  without  danger  of  it  re- 
ceiving a  fall. 

In  the  manner  described,  or  any  other  method,  adapted  to 
the  way  the  transit  is  packed,  take  it  from  its  box. 


III.      HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS  27 

Release  the  spindle  clamp.  Release  the  transit  axis  clamp. 
See  that  the  plumb  bob  chain  hangs  central  and  free  from 
beneath  the  base  plate. 

Place  the  transit  on  its  tripod.  With  one  hand  hold  of  the 
side  of  the  transit  to  keep  it  from  falling,  and  with  the 
other  hold  of  the  leveling  screws  so  as  to  turn  the  base, 
screw  the  base  on  to  the  tripod.  At  the  last  take  hold  of 
the  base  with  both  hands  and  make  sure  the  transit  is 
screwed  down  firmly.  If  the  screw  thread  in  the  base 
plate  of  the  transit  does  not  engage  readily  with  the  thread 
on  the  tripod,  steady  the  instrument  with  both  hands  so 
the  screws  bear  fair  and  turn  the  transit  slowly  and  care- 
fully to  the  left  till  the  screws  drop  together.  Turn  to  the 
right  and  screw  on  the  instrument. 

Take  o^thfe-cap  to  the  objective  of  the  telescope.  Put  on 
the  shade.  Put  the  cap  in  the  box  where  the  shade  was. 

Take  the  reading  glass.     Put  it  in  a  pocket,  handy  to  reach 
"  and  AY  IK:  re  it  cannot  get  lost.     Some  good  instrument  men 
tie  the  reading  glass  about  their  necks  with  a  strong  string, 
like  a  watch. 

Take  the  plumb  bob.  Tie  it  on  to  the  chain  with  a  sliding 
horse  knot,  tied'  with  a  bow,  so  the  bob  can  easily,  and 
quickly,  be  set  at  any  required  height. 

Put  the  board  in  the  box.  -Close  and  fasten  it.     Set  it  away 
.  in  its  place. 

Turn  the  telescope  straight  up  and  clamp  slightly. 

Release  the  spindle  clamp  if  not  released. 

Put  the  plumb  bob  in  a  pocket. 

Take  hold  of  the  tripod  by  two  of  its  legs, — one  in  each 
hand, — with  the  third  leg  towards -one  side  of  the  body. 
Lift  the  instrument  and  draw  the  legs  together  with  one 
motion,  raising  and  inclining  it  to  rest,  nearly  balanced, 
on  the  shoulder.  Let  go  of  the  leg  in  the  hand  that  is  on ' 
the  same  side  of  the  body  as  the  shoulder  on  which  the 
transit  rests,  holding  the  instrument  securely  with  the  oth- 
er. Pass  the  free  hand  between  the  two  free  legs  and 
grasp  the  one  the  other  hand  holds,  releasing  that  hand. 
P.y  so  doing  the  instrument  always  will  be  held  securely. 


28  III.        HANOI. IXC,    l.NSTKr.MKX  IS 

29.    Setting  up  Transit.    Making  a  Pointing. 

Take  the  instrument  to  the  work. 

To  set  the  transit  down,  grasp  two  tripod  legs, — one  in  each 
hand, — holding  one  vertical,  and  steadying  the  instrument 
with  the  other. 

Set  the  vertical  one  in  its  place  on  the  ground,  if  the  transit 
is  to  be  set  up  over  a  mark, — as  a  nail  in  a  stake. 

Grasp  the  other  two  legs, — one  in  each  hand, — and  spread 
them  out  to  such  a  position  that  the  base  plate,  on  which 
the  leveling  screws  stand,  appears  to  be  level  when  these 
legs  also  stand  on  the"  ground  .  The  tripod  legs  should  be 
spread  apart  far  enough  so  the  transit  will  not  only  be  in 
no  danger  of  an  upset,  but  so  it  will  stand  steady  while  ob- 
serving with  it. 

Take  the  plumb  bob  from  the  pocket  and  let  it  hang  beneath 
the  transit. 

If  the  transit  does  not  stand  over  the  mark  on  the  ground 
it  is  to  be  set  up  over,  lift  it  by  the  tripod,  bodily,  and 
move  it  so  it  will. 

Force  the  tripod  legs  into  the  ground,  or  spread  them  apart, 
or  place  their  feet,  so  the  plumb  bob  hangs  nearly  over 
the  mark,  and  the  tripod  will  stand  firm.  Instruments  are 
often  set  up  too  insecurely  to  permit  of  good  work  being 
done  with  them.  On  a  hard  surface  like  rock,  or  a  street 
pavement,  the  shoes  on  the  feet  of  the  tripod  must  be 
tight  or  the  tripod  will  wobble  on  them.  Besides  they  must 
be  set  where  there  is  no  danger  that  they  will  slip. 

Release  the  wing  nuts  at  the  tops  of  the  tripod  legs.  Tighten 
them  again. 

Release  all  of  the  leveling  screws,  or  other  device,  that  per- 
mits the  use  of  the  shifting  center.  Shift  the  transit  on 
its  base  plate,  or  shifting  center,  till  the  point  of  the  plumb 
bob  hangs  exactly  to  the  mark  over  which  the  transit  is 
being  set  up. 

Release  the  clamp  to  the  transit  axis. 

Release  the  clamp  to  the  spindle  axis,  if  not  already  released. 

Release  all  the  leveling  screws,  if  not  released. 


111.      HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS  29 

Turn  the  transit  on  its  spindle,  by  taking  hold  of  the  edge  of 
the  plate,  or  the  feet  of  the  standards  (not  the  telescope), 
so  the  bubble  tubes  will  stand  parallel  to  opposite  leveling 
screws. 

Operate  the  leveling  screws  parallel  to  the  transit  axis  till 
the  bubble  tube  they  control  reads  level,  leaving  the  screws 
loose. 

Operate  the  other  pair  of  leveling  screws  till  the  bubble  tube 
they  control  reads  level,  leaving  them  a  little  tight. 

Operate  the  first  pair  again  till  the  bubble  tube  they  control 
reads  level,  leaving  them  a  bit  tighter. 

Operate  the  other  pair  again  as  before,  leaving  them  tighter. 

Operate  the  first  pair  again  as  before,  leaving  them  tighter. 

A  few  touches  more  and  both  levels  should  read  level,  and 
the  leveling  screws  be  bearing  firmly  enough  so  the  transit 
will  not  turn  on  the  base  plate.  They  must  be  considerably 
tighter  when  there  is  much  wind. 

See  if  the  point  of  the  plumb  bob  hangs  exactly  to  the  mark. 
If  not  release  the  leveling  screws,  center  the  transit  car,e- 
fully,  and  level  again.  The  transit  is  now  "Set  up." 

Turn  the  transit  on  its  spindle  by  taking  hold  of  the  edge  of 
the  plates  or  the  feet  of  the  standards,  not  the  telescope, 
or  the  tops  of  the  standards. 

To  turn  the  telescope  on  the  transit  axis  take  hold  of  the  eye- 
piece end  of  the  body  tube,  not  the  eyepiece  itself.  To 
reverse  the  telescope  turn  the  eye  end  down,  take  hold  of 
the  body  tube  above  the  transit  axis,  not  the  shade,  and 
complete  the  reversion. 

The  leveling  screws  should  always  turn  with  the  same  re- 
sistance, and  smoothly,  if  the  instrument  is  leveled  as  cli- 
dected.  If  this  is  not  the  case,  clean  them,  and  the  hollow- 
screws  they  work  in.  When  the  instrument  is  leveled  the 
leveling  screws  should  be  bearing  evenly  and  firmly, — al! 
alike  in  every  respect. 

Place  the  tripod  on  the  ground,  if  practicable,  so  the  instru- 
ment man  will  stand  between  the  feet  of  two  of  the  tripod 
legs,  ordinarily,  while  at  work,  and  not  astride  of  one  of 
them. 


111.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS 

To  direct  the  telescope  towards  an  object,  release  the  spindle 
clamp  and  the  transit  axis  clamp,  if  both  are  not  released. 
Turn  the  transit  on  the  spindle  with  one  hand  to  the  edge 
of  the  plate,  and  turn  the  telescope  with  the  other  hand 
to  the  eyepiece  end  of  the  body  tube,  until  when  looking 
over,  or  under,  the  telescope  it  appears  to  be  pointed  in  the 
right  direction. 

To  find  the  cross  wires,  first  release  the  clamps  to  the  transit 
axis  and  spindle. 

Open  the  peep  hole  to  the  eyepiece. 

Direct  the  telescope  to  the  sky  or  a  light  colored  object. 

Look  through  the  telescope. 

Operate  the  device  for  moving  the  eyepiece  until  the  cross 
wires  appear  clear,  distinct,  black  lines  across  the  field  of 
view.  Make  them  appear  as  sharp  and  well  defined  a.c 
possible. 

To  focus  the  objective  direct  the  telescope  to  look  at  any  ob- 
ject. 

Look  through  the  telescope. 

Bring  the  object  into  the  field  of  vifew  by  some  slight  move- 
ments of  the  transit,  if  needed. 

Move  the  focussing  ratchet  to  the  objective  until  the  object 
appears  as  clear,  sharp,  and  distinct,  as  it  is  possible  to 
make  it. 

Move  the  head  slightly  but  still  be  able  to  look  through  the 
telescope. 

See  if  the  cross  wires  appear  to  slip  about  on  the  object. 
If  so,  change  the  focus  of  the  objective,  and  perhaps  of 
the  eyepiece  also,  slightly,  till  the  motion  of  the  head,  above- 
mentioned,  causes  no  change  in  the  relative  position  of  the 
object  and  the  cross  wires. 

When  the  objective  and  eyepiece  are  both  properly  focussed 
the  cross  wires  should  appear  to  be  painted  on  the  object. 
and  it  should  not  be  possible  to  change  their  relative  posi- 
tion by  any  motion  of  the  head.  The  view  of  either  the 
object,  or  cross  wires,  or  both,  may  not  be  quite  so  per- 
fectly distinct  and  clear  as  before  these  final  changes  in 
the  setting  of  the  objective,  or  eyepiece,  but  should  be. 


III.      HANDLING   INSTRUMENTS  31 

After  the  telescope  is  in  proper  focus,  clamp  the  spindle  and 

plate. 
By  means  of  the  slow  motion  screw  to  the  spindle,  make  the 

vertical  cross  wire  cover,  or  bisect,  the  object,  or  mark, 

sighted  to. 

This  is  "Making  a  pointing." 
If  the  plate  must  be  set  at  any  given  reading  for  a  designated 

pointing,  do  this  by  the  plate  clamp  and  slow  motion  screw, 

before  making  the  pointing. 
Make  the  pointing  by  means  of  the  spindle  clamp  and  slow 

motion  screw,  as  above. 
Read  the  plate  verniers.     See  if  the  readings  are  correct.    If 

so,  the  pointing  is  finished.     If  not,  repeat  the  work  till 

they  are. 

30.  ^Line  Staves.  •  Pickets.     Sight  Marks, 

Line  staves  are  used  in  transit  work.  A  common  one  is 
made  of  *^>"  wrought  iron  pipe,  one  end  closed,  the  other 
steel  pointed,  about  7  ft.  long,  painted  white,  with  the 
second,  fourth,  and  sixth  foot  from  the  top,  or  closed  end, 
painted  red,  or  black.  A  line  staff  should  be  straight,  true, 
and  the  point  exactly  in  the  axis  of  the  body  of  the  rod. 
Set  the  point  of  the  rod  on  a  board.  Twirl  it  in  a  vertical 
position.  It  should  revolve  true  and  not  wobble.  Watch 
it  at  the  place  where  the  steel  point  is  welded  on.  This 
makes  a  practical  staff  for  general  use.  On  some  city  and 
bridge  work  a  ^"  solid  steel  rod,  about  five  feet  long, 
turned  true  and  its  point  centered  in  a  lathe,  painted  the 
same  as  the  pipe,  is  found  to  be  very  satisfactory. 

The  line  staff  is  held  on  a  point,  or  mark,  from  which  line 
is  to  be  taken,  or  to  which  an  observation  is  to  be  made, 
and  used  as  a  mark  to  sight  to.  It  is  also  used  to  find 
where  any  line  comes  by  being  set  in  line  by  the  transit. 

To  hold  a  line  staff,  stand  squarely  behind  it  as  viewed  from 
the  instrument ;  face  the  instrument ;  settle  the  body  firm- 
ly on  the  legs  with  the  feet  apart,  alike  on  both  sides ;  let 
the  staff  pass  centrally  along  the  body  from  the  nose  down, 
the  person  having  a  sense  that  the  body  is  plumb ;  and 


32  111.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS 

hold  the  staff  with  both  hands  brought  together  at  the 
same  place  on  it,  the  ends  of  the  fingers  and  thumbs  em- 
bracing it,  and  with  the  elbows  extended  alike  on  both 
sides.  Practice  this  in  calm  weather,  and  there  will  be  less 
trouble  in  holding  the  staff  plumb  when  the  wind  blows. 
Sight  as  near  as  possible  to  the  point  of  a  line  staff.  Never 
trust  the  line  when  only  two  or  three  feet  of  the  top  can 
be  seen. 

Many  other  things  are  used  for  marks  to  sight  to  in  transit 
work.  A  plumb  bob  string,  a  small  nail,  or  the  point  of  a 
lead  pencil,  are  suitable  marks  up  to  300  ft.  or  so ;  a  lead 
pencil,  or  one  of  the  6"  spikes  from  the  measuring  set, 
from  100  to  500  or  600  feet.  From  thence  on  for  a  couple 
of  miles  the  line  staff,  made  of  yS  pipe  is  suitable.  These 
distances  are  subject  to  modification  according  to  the  con- 
ditions of  seeing.  The  line  staff  is  used  within  short  dis- 
tances from  the  transit.  The  tendency  is  to  use  much  too 
large  marks  to  sight  to.  Neither  is  there  always  sufficient 
'"care  bestowed  in  selecting  and  placing  them  so  the  pointing 

on  them  will  be  precise. 

One  of  the  more  useful  marks  in  transit  work  is  a  pjicJjiiL- 
Where  there  is  timber,  cut  a  stick  i"  to  2"  thick,  about  a 
foot  longer  than  the  height  of  the  transit  as  usually  set 
up.  Make  a  straight  blaze  along  about  two  feet  of  its 
top  about  1/4"  wide  for  sights  from  one  to  three  thousand 
feet  long.  Choose  the  lightest  colored  wood,  as  hickory, 
"or  basswood.  Cut  the  top  square  across  the  blaze  with  a 
slant  back  from  the  blaze.  Sharpen  the  bottom  end  to  go 
in  the  ground.  Before  moving  the  transit  turn  its  telescope 
on  to  the  mark  where  the  next  set  up  is  to  be.  Stick  up 
this  picket  with  the  straight  blaze  set  to  look  plumb  from 
the  forward  set  up  place,  so  it  will  stand  firm  with  the 
blaze  close  up  to  the  eyepiece.  Range  the  blaze  fairly  be- 
hind the  telescope.  Tf  the  telescope  is  inverting,  look 
through  it  from  the  objective  end.  Tf  the  picket  is  not  too 
close  the  blaze  may  then  be  set  in  the  middle  of  the  open- 
ing. If  the  telescope  is  erecting  sight  over  it,  or  beneath 
it.  rtvl  on  rprh  side  r>f  it.  At  the  new  set  up  set  the  verti- 


ill.      HAXDI.INC.   INSTRUMENTS  33 

cal  cross  wire  to  bisect  the  blaze  on  the  picket  at  the  place 
that  was  at  the  eyepiece.  This  picket  is  better  than  a 
line  staff  held  up  on  the  mark  and  dispenses  with  one  man. 
Any  other  kind  of  a  stick  may  be  used,  as  a  piece  of  board. 

Short  sights  should  be  avoided.  Sometimes  this  cannot  be 
done.  Then  use  a  £lunib  boji_si£iag,  a  fine  nail,  a  pencil 
point,  the  back  of  a  pocket  knife  blade,  or  some  similar 
small  object.  In  sighting  to  a  blumb  bob  string  set  the 
cross  wire  on  it  as  near  the  place  from  which  it  is  sus- 
pended, as  practicable.  Often  the  plumb  bob  string  may 
be  held  in  the  hand  grasping  a  line  staff,  or  long  stake, 
stuck  into  the  ground  to  one  side  of  the  line  of  vision,  and 
inclined  till  the  point  of  the  bob  is  exactly  to  the  mark  it 
is  desired  to  sight  to.  This  will  steady  the  hand  holding 
the  string. 

A  picket. — long  or  short, — of  suitable  thickness  may  be  stuck 
in  the  ground  back  of  a  mark  and  inclined  over  the  mark 
till  a  plumb  bob  string  held  to  the  center  of  its  top  brings 
the  point  of  the  bob  to  the  mark.  Sight  to  the  top  of  a 
picket  set  in  this  way,  where  the  plumb  bob  string  was. 

A  very  useful  mark  to  sight  to,  both  for  short  sights  and 
those  up  to  a  thousand  feet,  or  more,  is  made  by  sticking 
a  nail,  fine,  or  thicker,  as  may  be  needed,  twice  through  a 
piece  of  white  paper  so  that  the  paper  will  form  a  back 
ground  for  the  nail  when  set  in  line.  Fold  the  paper,  or 
cut  it,  into  a  rectangle.  Stick  the  nail  exactly  central  in 
the  paper  and  parallel  to  the  sides  of  the  rectangle.  This 
mark  is  often  used  by  first  setting  the  cross  wire  on  the 
line  where  it  is  to  be  set  by  reference  to  a  mark  on  that 
line  by  some  other  means,  as  a  line  staff,  or  a  plumb  line, 
and  then  setting  the  nail  on  line  with  the  transit.  Drive 
the  nail  plumb.  After  the  nail  has  been  set  test  the  steadi- 
ness of  the  transit  by  again  sighting  to  the  reference  mark. 
The  person  with  the  line  staff  or  plumb  line  can  then  be 
released  for  other  duty,  the  nail  being  used  for  reference. 
If  prepared  and  set  as  directed,  this  mark  can  be  referred 
to  for  line,  from  any  place  where  the  paper  can  be  distinctly 
seen. 


34  111.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS 

Jn  sighting  to  a  stick,  or  mark  of  any  kind,  set  to  show  a 
line,  use  the  very  spot  that  was  set  on  the  line,  not  the 
other  part. 

31.  Locating  a  Mark. 

To  locate  a  mark  on  a  designated  line,  set  up  the  transit  at 
a  mark  on  that  line  and  set  the  line  of  sight  (vertical  cross 
wire)  on  another  mark  on  that  line,  as  above  directed. 

Turn  the  telescope  on  the  transit  axis  to  look  to  the  placy 
where  the  new  mark  is  required.  Set  a  line  staff  in  line  at  this 
place.  Drive  a  stout  stake,  or  plug,  where  the  staff  stood 
till  flush  with  the  ground.  While  the  stake,  or  plug,  is 
being  driven,  see  that  the  point  of  the  plumb  bob  is  to  the 
mark,  that  the  plate  levels  read  level,  and  that  the  vertical 
cross  wire  strikes  the  other  mark  on  the  reference  line. 
When  the  plug  is  down,  and  the  transit  exactly  set,  and 
standing  so,  set  the  staff  precisely  in  line  on  top  of  the 
plug, — the  staff  being  plumb.  Look  again  to  the  stability 
of  the  transit,  and,  finding  it  secure,  signal  "All  right." 
Drive  a  small  wire  nail  at  the  mark  in  the  plug  made  by 
the  point  of  the  staff,  leaving  the  head  up  a  little.  There 
are  many  other  ways  of  marking  points. 

Measure,  and  record,  distances  from  the  nail  in  the  plug  to 
three,  or  more,  of  the  nearest  and  most  permanent  objects, 
such  as  trees,  foundations,  hydrants,  lamp  posts,  or  pumps, 
with  their  directions  from  the  plug  and  plain  descriptions 
of  them.  Also  measure  and  record  the  distance  from  the 
nail  in  the  plug  to  some  other  mark  on  the  same  line. 

32.  Signals. 

Stand  squarely  behind  the  transit  when  giving  signals.  Make 
the  motions  slowly,  especially  if  they  are  to  be  read  at  some 
distance.  It  is  usual  to  move  too  quickly  in  giving  signals. 

To  say  "Move  the  line  staff  to  the  right,"  stretch  out  the 
right  hand  and  arm  level. 

To  say  "Move  the  line  staff  to  the  left/'  stretch  out  the  left 
hand  and  arm  level. 

Let  one  down  by  the  side  before  raising  the  other. 


111.       IIANDUNG    INSTRUMENTS  35 

To  say  "All  right,"  raise  both  hands  above  the  head  and 

with  the  arms  fully  extended,  bring-  them  slowly  down  to 

the  sides. 
To  say  "Hold  up  the  line  staff,"  throw  the  weight  onto  one 

foot  and  extend  the  opposite  hand  and  arm  as  high  as  they 

will  reach. 

To  say  "Plumb  the  line  staff,"  incline  the  head  in  the  direc- 
tion the  top  of  the  staff  should  go. 
To  say  "Come  here,"  beckon  with  the  hat,  or  head  covering. 

The  transit  man  should  not  "move  up"  until  called  in  this 

way. 
Many  additional  special  signals  will  grow  up  in  any  party 

working  for  some  time  on  the  same  work. 
The   signals   with   a  handkerchief,   a   flag,   or   the   like,   are 

based  on  those  given. 
To  the  right, — show  the  flag  to  the  right. 
To  the  left,— show  the  flag  to  the  left. 
All  right, — wave  the  flag  slowly  back  and  forth,  aloft. 
Hold  up  staff, — stretch  up  the  hand  with  the  flag  in  it. 
Plumb  the  staff, — stretch  up  the  hand  with  the  flag  in  it  and 

incline  the  flag  in  the  direction  the  top  of  the  staff  should 

go- 
Come  here, — raise  the  flag  staff  with  the  head  cover  on  its 

top. 

A  whistle  is  very  useful  for  signalling.     It  is  made  of  tin, 
~  with  a  "barrel"  about  one  inch  in  diameter.     Most  tinners 

know  how  to  make  one. 
To  the  right, — one  blast. 
To  the  left, — two  blasts. 
All  right, — three  blasts. 
Hold  up  the  staff, — one  long  blast. 
Plumb  the  staff, — one  rather  long  blast  followed  by  one  toot 

for  top  to  the  right,  or  two  toots  for  top  to  the  left. 
Come  here, — two  long  blasts. 
Something  in  the  way, — repeated  short  toots. 
Come  back  and  clear  out  the  line, — short  toot,  then  a  blast, 

repeated  as  the  axeman  comes  back  till  he  is  brought  to  the 

spot.     He  may  get  too  far  back. 


36  III.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS 

Go  ahead, — a  blast,  then  a  short  toot.  So  bring  him  to  the 
spot.  Then  signal  him  right,  cr  left,  as  above,  and  also 

Up, — two  toots  and  a  blast. 

Down, — a  blast  and  two  toots. 

So  it  is  possible  to  bring  his  hand  to  the  thing  that  makes 
the  trouble.  When  he  has  the  line  clear,  give  him, — All 
right, — Go  ahead. 

All  hands  this  way, — four  blasts. 

The  above  are  illustrations  which  may  be  greatly  extended 
if  occasion  requires. 

Right  and  left  must  always  mean  with  respect  to  the  direc- 
tion in  which  the  line  is  going  and  not  the  direction  in 
which  the  telescope  on  the  transit  may  chance  to  be  looking. 

33.    Putting  away  Transit. 

Bring  in  the  transit  when  through  work. 

See  that  it  is  in  good  order  for  immediate  use.    If  not,  make 

it  so. 
Put  it  in  its  box  at  once.    Do  not  leave  it  standing  around  on 

its  tripod. 

The  place  for  an  instrument  is  in  its  box,  when  not  in  use. 
The  place  for  the  box,  with  the  instrument  in  it,  is  where  the 

temperature  is  steady  and  where  it  will  be  let  alone. 
Keep  in  the  box  with  the  instrument  a  fine  camel's  hair 

brush  and  a  piece  of  the  softest  chamois  skin  for  the  lenses. 

Keep  there  another  camel's  hair  brush,  such  as  painters 

use,  about  an  inch  wide,  for  dusting  off  the  instrument ; 

also  soft  cloths  for  wiping  it. 
Take  off  the  plumb  bob,  wind  up  its  string  neatly,  and  put 

it  in  its  place  in  the  transit  box. 
Put  the  reading  glass  in  its  place  in  the  box. 
Release  the  spindle  and  transit  axis  clamps,  if  not  released. 
Take  off  the  shade  and  put  it  in  its  place  in  the  box. 
See  if  the  objective  and  outside  eyepiece  lens  need  dusting 

off.     If  they  do,  dust  them  off  with  the  lens  brush.     They 

may   need   slight   wiping  with   the   chamois.      Be\vare   of 

scratching  them. 
Close  the  cap  to  the  eyepiece. 


HI.       HANDLING   INSTRUMENTS  37 

Cover  the  objective  with  its  cap  after  seeing  that  the  cap 
is  clean. 

Dust  off  all  parts  of  the  instrument  with  its  brush,  if  it  needs 
dusting.  Wipe  it  with  cloths  if  required. 

Release  the  leveling  screws. 

Place  the  transit  central  on  its  base  plate. 

Tighten  the  leveling  screws  rather  firmly,  making  them  all 
even  so  the  plates  between  which  they  work  will  be  parallel. 

Unscrew  the  instrument  from  its  tripod. 

Screw  it  on  to  its  sliding  board,  if  there  is  one. 

Clamp  the  spindle,  and  release  the  plate  clamp. 

Slide  the  board  into  the  box  carefully  with  the  instrument 
on  it  and  in  its  proper  position. 

By  trial  and  .examination  set  the  telescope  and  other  parts 
so  as  to  be  as  clear  of  the  box  as  possible. 

Clamp  the  plate  and  transit  axis  but  not  very  hard. 

See  that  the  door  of  the  box  shuts  freely, — no  crowding. 

Close  the  box.  Fasten  it.  Lock  it.  Put  the  key  away.  Set 
the  box  in  its  place.  Close  and  strap  the  tripod.  Put  it 
away  in  a  safe  place. 

If  there  is  no  sliding  board,  place  the  transit  in  its  box  in 
its  proper  position,  so  the  spindle  clamp  and  transit  axis 
clamp  are  accessible.  When  the  instruments  is  securely 
placed  clamp  those  clamps  slightly,  also  the  transit  axis 
clamp.  See  that  the  box  closes  freely.  Close  and  lock  it. 
and  set  it  in  its  place. 

If  an  instrument  comes  in  wet  wipe  it  off  with  soft  cloths 
and  brush  the  moisture  off  of  the  outside  of  the  objective 
and  eye  lens  with  the  -lens  brush,  or  wipe  them  with  the 
chamois,  or  both. 

Unscrew  the  instrument  from  its  tripod,  and  set  it  in  a  warm 
(not  hot)  place  to  dry,  where  it  will  not  be  touched. 

If  there  is  water  between  the  glasses  of  the  objective,  or  with- 
in the  eyepiece,  or  inside  of  the  tubes,  or  between  the 
plates,  let  the  instrument  stand  in  a  warm  place  for  some 
time  (say  over  night)  and  it  may  come  out.  Do  not  make 
haste  to  be  taking  things  apart  to  get  it  out.  While  wait- 
ing for  the  transit  to  dry,  put  the  reading  glass,  plumb 

51161 


38  III.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS 

bob,  and  shade  in  their  places  in  the  box.  Leave  the  cap 
off  of  the  objective  and  the  eyepiece  cap  open  till  the  in- 
strument is  dry.  When  it  is  dry,  dust  and  clean  it,  if  it 
needs  it.  See  that  the  parts  are  working  freely.  Put  it 
away  in  its  box. 

If  an  instrument  has  to  be  transported,  have  a  packing  case 
well  upholstered  within  on  all  six  sides  to  set  the  instru- 
ment box  in.  It  should  fit  snug. 

For  the  reading  of  an  angle  see  50. 

34.    Level. 

For  information  relating  to  the  following  subjects  read  what 
is  said  regarding  them  under  Transit.  There  should  be 
no  difficulty  in  applying  the  statements  to  the  handling  of 
a  level. 

Packing  in  its  box. 

Tripod. 

Screwing  to  tripod. 

Cap  over  objective,  and  shade. 

Setting  box  away. 

Carrying  on  shoulder. 

Setting  down.    Does  not  have  to  be  set  up  over  a  mark. 

Finding  crosswires. 

Focussing  objective. 

Lift  the  level  by  its  base  or  by  the  bar  upon  which  the  tele- 
scope is  mounted, — not  by  the  telescope. 

In  leveling  this  instrument,  turn  the  bar  to  stand  over  a 
pair  of  leveling  screws. 

Operate  this  pair  till  the  bubble  tube  reads  nearly  level,  leav- 
ing the  screws  loose. 

Turn  the  bar  over  the  other  pair  of  leveling  screws. 

Operate  this  pair  till  the  bubble  tube  reads  level,  leaving 
them  a  little  tight. 

Turn  the  bar  back  over  the  first  pair, — do  not  reverse  it. 

Operate  this  pair  again  till  the  bubble  reads  level,  leaving 
them  a  bit  tighter  than  the  other  pair. 

Turn  the  bar  back  over  the  other  pair, — do  not  reverse  it 
at  any  time  while  leveling  this  instrument. 


III.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS  39 

Operate  this  pair  till  the  bubble  reads  level  and  they  are  as 
tight  as  will  be  needed. 

Turn  the  bar  back  over  the  first  pair. 

Operate  them  till  the  bubble  reads  level,  and  they  are  tight 
enough. 

A  few  touches  more  and  the  bubble  should  read  level  in  both 
positions.  The  bubble  tube  is  much  more  sensitive  than 
those  in  the  plate  levels  of  a  transit  and  correspondingly 
more  difficult  to  set  to  read  level. 

The  leveling  screws  should  bear  evenly,  not  too  tight,  and 
turn  by  the  application  of  the  same  force  to  each.  They 
need  be  only  tight  enough  to  hold  the  bubble  level.  When 
there  is  no  wind  at  all  they  may  be  entirely  loose,  the  level 
standing  upon  their  bottom  ends,  with  no  pressure  on  the 
ball  and  socket  joint  in  the  base  plate. 

The  level  is  then  ready  for  observing,  although  may  be  the 
bubble  will  not  read  level  if  the  bar  should  be  reversed. 

It  is  now  said  to  be  set  up. 

35     Leveling  Rod. 

There  is  used  with  a  level,  a  leveling  rod. 

This  is  an  accurately  divided  wooden  rod.  The  unit  of  divi- 
sion may  be  anything,  but  the  foot  and  the  meter  are  prob- 
ably the  most  used. 

There  are  target  rods  and  speaking  rods, — so-called. 

On  the  target  rod  is  a  target,  or  two  in  some  cases,  to  which 
the  pointing  of  the  level  is  made.  After  the  target  has 
been  set  by  direction  of  the  leveler,  the  rodman  reads  the 
distance  of  the  sight  line  on  it  from  the  zero  of  the  divi- 
sions, or  graduations,  usually  with  the  aid  of  a  vernier. 

The  speaking  rod  has  no  target.  The  leveler  reads  the  rod 
without  assistance  from  the  rodman,  by  noticing  where 
the  horizontal  cross  wire  appears  to  lie  on  the  graduations. 

The  target  rods  in  most  common  use  in  the  United  States 
are  the  Boston  Rod,  the  New  York  Rod,  the  Philadelphia 
Rod,  and  the  Troy  Rod.  There  is  some  choice  in  the  kind 
and  plan  of  a  rod  for  different  kinds  of  work. 


III.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS 

The  targets  in  common  use  are  of  a  pattern  which  introduces 
a  considerable  uncertainty  into  the  rod  readings,  espec- 
ially when  at  some  distance  from  the  level.  These  pat- 
terns can  be  easily  improved  by  using  central  white  spaces 
on  the  target,  of  increasing  width  towards  the  sides  of  the 
target,  these  spaces  to  be  bisected  by  the  horizontal  cross 
wire,  using  the  wider  ones  on  distant  sights.  These  spaces 
should  be  rectangular  in  form. 

Speaking  rod  patterns  are  of  a  very  great  variety  of  forms. 
Avoid  those  containing  oblique  lines,  points  and  sharp  an- 
gles. The  pattern  should  be  made  up  of  rectangles,  paint- 
ed alternately  white  and  black.  The  pattern  should  be  so 
arranged  that  the  horizontal  cross  wire  will  always  lie  on 
a  white  surface,  except  at  the  edges  of  the  black  rectangles. 
The  rectangles  may  be  one-tenth  of  a  foot  high,  or  a  half 
a  tenth  of  a  foot,  the  hundredth  of  a  foot,  where  needed, 
being  estimated  by  the  leveler. 

Do  not  infer  because  a  target  rod  is  read  to  thousandths  of 
a  foot  by  a  vernier,  while  the  hundredths  of  a  foot  on  a 
speaking  rod  are  "Guessed  at,"  and  the  thousandths 
"Thrown  away,"  that  the  target  rod  is  either  more  pre- 
cise, or  more  trustworthy. 

Target  rods  are  made  in  more  than  two  pieces,  for  obtaining 
a  longer  extension,  or  a  shorter  length  when  closed. 

Speaking  rods  are  hinged,  or  jointed,  for  compactness.  They 
are  also  made  in  the  form  of  a  broad  tape,  to  be  fastened 
to  a  board  for  use,  and  rolled  up  when  not  in  use, — the 
"Flexible"  rod.  For  many  uses,  take  a  strip  of  wood  of 
any  suitable  length,  %"  x  2",  and  tack  on  to  it  a  piece  of 
a  metallic  tape  measure.  Mark  off,  on  the  stick,  the  even 
feet  from  the  steel  tape,  and  tack  on  the  tape  so  its  foot 
marks  fit  these.  This  rod  may  be  of  any  length,  up  to 
fifteen  feet.  It  is  very  useful  on  rough  work. 

The  leveling  rod  is  used  for  measuring  the  vertical  distance 
between  the  line  of  sight  of  the  level  and  any  object.  The 
object  may  be  below  the  line  of  sight  of  the  level,  as  is 
commonly  the  case  in  surveys  upon  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  or  above  it.  as  in  overhead  work,  which  mav  be 


III.       H.VXm.INr.    I  \STkr.\IK.\TS  41 

met  with  in  tunnels,  mines,  selling  of  steel  beams,  or  in 
leveling  shafting. 

The  rod  is  used  by  holding  it  vertical,  or  waving  it  slightly, 
so  as  to  measure  the  shortest  distance  from  the  line  of 
sight  of  the  level  to  the  object  upon  which  the  foot  of  the 
rod  is  held.  Tn  leveling  shafting,  a  large  hook  is  sometimes 
screwed  into  the  foot  of  the  rod  and  the  rod  hung  from 
the  shafting  by  this  hook.  A  hook  with  a  square  turn  is  used, 
also  one  with  a  circular  curve  of  larger  radius  than  the 
shafting.  The  latter  can  be  used  on  shafting  of  any  size 
smaller  than  the  curve  of  the  hook,  while  the  hook  with 
the  square  turn  sets  lower  on  the  smaller  shafting  and  re- 
quires a  correction  to  the  rod  reading  in  addition  to  that 
for  the  size  of  the  shafting  when  the  axis  of  the  whole 
line,  it  may  be  containing  different  sizes,  must  be  placed 
at  the  same, height. 

When  using  a  target  rod,  the  rodman  should  move  the  tar- 
get as  directed  by  the  leveler,  with  an  uniform,  steady, 
even,  motion,  not  by  jerks,  and  spurts. 

When  using  a  speaking  rod  the  rodman  should  be  very  par- 
ticular to  hold  it  plumb.  Read  the  suggestions  for  hold- 
ing a  line  staff  plumb. 

When  using  any  rod  the  rodman  should  stand  squarely  back 
of  the  rod  and  face  the  level. 

Signals. 

Target  to  be  moved  down,  leveler  lowers  his  hand  and  shows 
the  back  of  it  to  the  rodman,  who  keeps  the  target  going 
down  with  an  even  motion  until  stopped  by  a  signal  from 
the  leveler. 

Target  to  be  moved  up,  leveler  raises  his  hand  and  shows  the 
inside  of  it  to  the  rodman,  who  keeps  the  target  going  up 
with  an  even  motion  until  stopped  by  a  signal  from  the 
leveler. 

As  the  sight  line  on  the  target  approaches  the  horizontal 
cross  wire  the  leveller  quickly  throws  his  hand  and  arm 
out  to  a  horizontal  position  in  time  to  catch  the  target  with 
its  sicrht  line  on  the  cross  wire.  This  he  will  soon  learn 


III.       HANDLING   INSTRUMENTS 

to  come  very  near  doing.  The  rodman  seeing  this  signal, 
as  quickly  stops  the  target  and  holds  it  from  slipping.  A 
slight  adjustment  of  the  target  will  bring  it  exactly  to 
place. 

The  leveler  extends  both  arms  to  say  "All  right." 

To  say  ''Plumb  the  rod,"  the  leveler  inclines  his  head  the  way 
the  top  of  the  rod  should  go. 

To  say  "Wave  the  rod,"  the  leveler  raises  his  hand  above  his 
head  and  waves  it  back  and  forth  towards  and  away  from 
the  rod. 

To  say  "Hold  up  the  rod,"  the  leveler  throws  his  weight  on 
to  one  foot  and  raises  his  opposite  hand  as  high  as  he  can 
reach. 

To  say  "Clamp  the  target"  or  "Clamp-the  rod,"  the  leveler 
whirls  his  hand  around  as  if  turning  a  crank. 

In  a  wind  the  rodman  may  not  be  able  to  make  the  leveler 
hear  distinctly  his  call  of  the  figures  in  the  reading  of  a 
target  rod.  It  is  quite  easy  to  mistake  "five"  for  "nine." 
The  rodman  lays  his  rod  on  the  ground  and  stands  facing 
across  the  levelers  line  of  vision.  He  extends  his  arms 
wide  apart  vertically  and  brings  the  palms  of  hands  to- 
gether, not  too  quickly,  as  many  times  as  there  are  units 
in  the  figure  he  wishes  to  communicate, — as  seven  times 
for  figure  seven.  He  makes  a  short  pause.  He  makes  the 
next  figure  in  the  same  way,  and  so  on  till  the  leveler  sig- 
nals "All  right,"  that  he  understands  them  all. 

To  say  "Repeat  the  rod  reading,"  the  leveler  waves  his  hand 
with  jerks  and  mixed  movements,  signifying  confusion. 

A  rod  is  "Read"  by  repeating  the  figures  of  the  entire  read- 
ing, speaking  the  feet  (or  other  units)  first, — as  "Eleven," 
— pausing  slightly,  and  following  with  the  figures  in  their 
order  in  the  decimal  part  of  the  reading. 

Shouting,  noise,  and  racket,  are  no  part  of  surveying.  Keep 
as  quiet  as  possible,  and  give  undivided  attention  to  the 
work.  It  takes  this  to  avoid  errors,  mistakes,  and  blunders. 

"Short  rod"  means  a  movement  of  the  target  within  the 
length  of  the  foot  piece,  or  bottom  piece,  of  the  rod. 

"Long  rod''  means  a  movement  of  the  target  beyond  the 
length  of  the  foot  piece  of  the  rod. 


in.     IIAXDI.IXG  INSTRUMENTS  43 

For  long  rod  with  the  "New  York"  or  "Philadelphia,"  rod 
set  the  target  exactly  to  the  short  rod  reading  at  which  the 
long  rod  reading  begins, — as  at  6.500,  on  some  New  York 
rods.  Be  particular  about  this,  or  the  long  rod  readings 
will  be  wrong. 

For  long  rod  with  the  "Boston"  simply  invert  the  rod  and 
take  the  reading  from  the  other  vernier. 

For  long  rod  with  the  "Troy"  rod,  the  leveler  sights  to  the 
upper  target  and  adds  the  distance, — as  6  ft., — between 
the  sight  lines  of  the  targets,  to  the  reading  from  the  ver- 
nier. 

37.    Taking  a  Rod  Reading. 

Hold  the  rod  vertically  with  its  foot  on  the  object  upon 

which  a  rod  reading  is  to  be  taken. 
Direct  the  telescope  to  look  at  the  rod. 
Focus  the  objective  sharply  on  the  rod. 
vSee  if  the  bubble   reads   level.     If  not,   start  the   leveling 

screws  that  are  nearest  parallel  to  the  level  tube  slightly 

and  set  them  so  the  bubble  will  real  level  and  stand  at  that 

reading. 
By  directions  from  the  leveler,  the  rodman  sets  the  target  so 

its  sight  line  precisely  matches  the  horizontal  cross  wire. 
Clamp  the  target. 
•See  if  the  bubble  still  reads  level.     If  not,  repeat  the  work, 

till  it  does. 
Wave  the  rod  slowly  back  and  forth,  towards  and  away  from 

the  level,  past  the  vertical  both  ways,  if  the  rod  reading  is 

over  six  feet.     If  there  is  much  wind  wave  the  rod  for  a 

reading  of  over  four  and  a  half  feet. 
See  if  the  target  is  set  to  match  its  sight  line  precisely  to 

the  cross  wire  once  in  its  path,  as  it  is  waved,  and  passes 

below  the  wire  each  way  from  that  one  place. 
See  if  the  bubble  reads  level. 
When  satisfied,  read  the  rod. 
Do  not  wave  the  rod  for  a  short  reading, — say  up  to  two  or 

three  feet, — or  the  reading  will  be  wrong. 


44  III.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS 

Always  be  sure  the  bubble  reads  level  fur  every  rod  reading 
whether  the  level  is  in  adjustment,  or  not. 

The  above  directions  provide  for  a  rod  reading  having  all 
the  precision  possible,  with  the  instruments  used.  Such 
rod  readings  should  be  taken  on  all  Bench  Marks,  Turn- 
ing Points,  or  other  objects,  upon  which  the  transfer,  con- 
tinuation, or  preservation,  of  the  levels  depend. 

In  placing  pegs,  or  other  marks,  for  construction  it  is  custom- 
ary to  read  the  rod  to  hundredths  of  a  foot,  and  not  to 
use  quite  the  extreme  care  above  outlined. 

In  taking  rod  readings  on  the  surface  of  the  ground  merely 
to  get  its  elevation,  it  is  customary  to  seek  to  obtain  their 
correct  value  to  the  nearest  tenth,  or  half  tenth,  of  a  foot, 
and  much  less  care  is  needed. 

The  above  directions  for  the  target  rod  may  be  adapted  to 
the  use  of  the  speaking  rod. 

38.    Putting  away  Level. 

Bring  in  the  level  and  rod  when  through  work. 

See  that  the  level  is  in  good  order  for  immediate  use.  If 
not,  make  it  so. 

Put  it  in  its  box  at  once.  Do  not  leave  it  standing  around 
on  its  tripod. 

The  place  for  an  instrument  is  in  its  box,  when  not  in  use. 

The  place  for  the  box,  with  the  instrument  in  it,  is  where  the 
temperature  is  steady  and  where  it  will  be  let  alone. 

Keep  in  the  box  with  the  instrument  a  fine  camel's  hair 
brush  and  a  piece  of  the  softest  chamois  skin  for  the  lenses. 
Keep  there  another  camel's  hair  brush,  such  as  painters 
use,  about  an  inch  wide,  for  dusting  off  the  instrument ; 
also  soft  cloths  for  wiping  it. 

Take  off  the  shade  and  put  it  in  its  place  in  the  box. 

See  if  the  objective  and  outside  eyepiece  lens  need  dusting  off. 
If  they  do,  dust  them  off  with  the  lens  brush.  They  may 
need  slight  wiping  with  the  chamois.  Beware  of  scratch- 
ing them. 

Close  the  cap  to  the  eyepiece. 


III.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS  45 

Cover  the  objective  with  its  cap  after  seeing  that  the  cap  is 

clean. 

Dust  off  all  parts  of  the  level  with  its  brush  if  it  needs  dust- 
ing.    Wipe  it  with  cloths  if  required. 
Release  the  leveling  screws. 
Tighten  them  rather  firmly,  making  them  all  even  so  the 

plates  between  which  they  work  will  be  parallel. 
Unscrewr  the  level  from  its  tripod. 
Put  the  level  in  its  box. 
See  that  the  box  closes  freely, — no  crowding. 
Close  the  box.    Fasten  it.    Lock  it.    Put  the  key  away.     Set 

the  box  in  its  place. 

Close  and  strap  the  tripod.     Put  it  away  in  a  secure  place. 
In  case  a  level  comes  in  wet  follow  the  instructions  given  for 

the  transit  when  wet. 
If  a  level  has  to  be  transported,  have  a  packing  case  well 

upholstered  within  on  all  six  sides  to  set  the  instrument 

box  in.    It  should  fit  snug. 

39.    Putting  away  Leveling  Rod. 

See  that  the  leveling  rod  is  in  good  order  for  immediate  use. 

If  not,  make  it  so. 
Put  it  away  in  its  place  at  once.     Do  not  leave  it  standing 

around. 
Dirt  and  damage  from  use,  or  abuse,  make  a  rod  worthless. 

Clamp  screws  can  be  cleaned.     Leave  no  oil  when  done. 

Clamps  can  be  refitted. 

Metal  parts  *£Sh  be  fastened  better. 

Fixed  targets,  as  on  the  Boston  Rod,  can  be  fastened  on 
more  securely. 

Common  hard  soap  will  lubricate  clean  wooden  parts. 

If  the  rod  is  dim  to  read  from  dirt,  -wash  it  with  soap  and 
water. 


46  III.      HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS 

III.     HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS. 

PRACTICE. 

Setting"  up,  and  putting  away  instruments. 

40.  Transit. 

Outfit. 

Transit. 
Axe,  stakes,  and  nails. 

Line  staff. 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued  or  be  liable  for" the  defects 
found  upon  their  return. 

41.  Inspection  of  Transits. 

Try  all  clamps  and  slow  motion  screws. 
Try  all  rotary  motions. 
Spindle  axis. 
Plate. 
Verniers. 

Transit,  or  telescope  axis. 
Try  focussing  motions. 
Objective  slide. 
Eye  piece. 
Try  leveling  screws. 

If  not  on  center  of  base  plate  with  leveling  screws  even 

and  firm,  return  to  user. 
Look  for  cross  wires, 

plumb  bob  chain, 

reading  glass, 

plumb  bob, 

shade, 

cap  over  objective, 

screw  driver, 

adjusting-  pins. 


III.       IIAXDUXG    1. \STKL-.M1CNTS  47 

camel's  hair  brushes, 
damage  to  box, 

broken,  or  cracked,  bubble  tubes, 
scratches  on-  the  objective, 
cap  on  eyepiece,  and 
evidences  of  blows,  upsets,  or  abuse. 
Examine  all  circles  and  their  verniers  for  scratches, 
dents,  and  injuries  of  any  kind. 

42.  Inspection  of  Tripods. 

Look  for  shoes, 

loose  shoes, 

wing  nuts, 

bolts, 

breaks,  or  splits,  in  legs, 

damage  to  top  screw, 

cover  cap, 

dents,  or  bends,  in  top  casting,  and 

evidences  of  misuse  or  abuse. 

43.  Reminders. 

Observe  narrowly  how  the  transit  is  packed  in  its  box. 

See  that  the  shoes  on  the  tripod  are  tight,  and  the  screw  on 

it  in  good  order. 
Lift  the  transit  by  its  plates,  or  base, — not  by  the  transit  axis 

or  standards. 
Put  the  cap  in  the  box. 
Put  on  the  shade. 

Take  the  plumb  bob  and  reading  glass. 
Put  the  box  away. 
Release  all  the  leveling  screws  before  beginning  to  level  the 

transit. 

Focus  the  telescope  carefully. 

Make  pointings  with  precision.     Bisect  the  mark  accurately. 
Sight  to  the  bottom  of  the  line  staff,  if  practicable. 
Use  good  stakes, — no  splinters. 
l'se  good  plugs. — 4"  or  more,  across  the  top, — driven  flush 

with  the  ground, — not  stakes.    These  for  instrument  points. 


48  III.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS 

Make  good  notes.     They  cannot  be  too  good. 

Watch  all  the  stuff  all  the  time,  or  some  of  it  will  get  lost. 

Each  person  be  responsible  for  certain  articles. 

Before  moving  away  from  a  work"  place,  find  all  of  the  out- 
fit and  account  for  every  article. 

When  through  work,  put  every  thing  away,  in  order  for  im- 
mediate use,  and  in  its  place. 

44.  Take  a  transit  out  of  doors.     Set  it  up  properly  over  a 

nail  in  a  stake,  or  plug.  Learn  and  operate  the  different 
motions  and  parts.  Find  the  cross  wires.  Set  the  line  of 
sight  on  a  mark.  Locate  a  new  mark,  as  a  nail  in  a  plug, 
on  the  line  to  the  mark  sighted  to.  Take  down  the  transit, 
repack  it  in  its  box  properly,  and  put  it  away. 

45.  Level. 

Outfit. 

Level. 

Leveling  Rod. 

Axe,  and  stakes. 
Examine  the  articles  as  issued  or  be  liable  for  the  defects 

found  upon  their  return. 

46.  Inspection  of  Levels. 

Try  clamp  and  slow  motion  screw. 
Try  rotary  motions. 
Spindle  axis. 
Telescope  in  wyes. 
Try  focussing  motions. 
Objective  slide. 
Eyepiece. 
Try  leveling  screws. 

If  not  even  and  firm,  return  to  user. 
Look  for  cross  wires, 
shade, 

cap  over  objective, 
screw  driver, 
adjusting  pins, 


III.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS  49 

camel's  hair  brushes, 

damage  to  box, 

broken,  or  cracked,  bubble  tubes, 

scratches  on  objective, 

cap  on  eyepiece,  and 

evidences  of  blows,  upsets,  or  abuse. 

47.  Inspection  of  Leveling  Rods. 

Try  the  clamps. 

Try  the  slide. 

Look  for  clamp  screws, — bent,  broken,  or  lost, — 

loose  target,  on  Boston,  or  Troy,  Rods, 

scratched,  or  bent,  target,  dirt, 

scratches  on  scales,  or  face  of  rod,  dirt, 

damaged,  or  lost,  verniers, 

splits,. or  breaks,  in  tongue  and  groove,  and 

evidences  of  blows,  falls,  or  abuse. 

48.  Reminders. 

See  how7  the  level  is  packed  in  its  box. 

Examine  the  tripod. 

Lift  the  level  by  its  base  or  bar. 

Put  the  cap  in  the  box. 

Put  on  the  shade. 

Put  the  box  away. 

Release  all  the  leveling  screws  before  beginning  to  level  the 
instrument. 

Focus  the  telescope  carefully. 

Set  the  target  accurately. 

See  that  the  bubble  reads  level  for  every  rod  reading. 

Hold  the  rod  plumb. 

Watch  all  the  stuff  all  the  time,  or  some  of  it  will  get  lost. 

Each  person  be  responsible  for  certain  articles. 

Do  not  set  a  leveling  rod  where  it  is  liable  to  fall  down  and 
be  broken.  This  is  too  common.  Lay  it  on  the  ground. 

When  through  work,  put  every  thing  away,  in  order  for  im- 
mediate use,  and  in  its  place. 


50  III.       HANDLING  INSTRUMENTS 

49.  Take  out  of  doors,  a  level  and  rod.  Set  up  the  level. 
Learn  and  operate  the  different  motions  and  parts.  Hav- 
ing set  it  up  firmly  and  leveled  it  carefully,  take  a  roc! 
reading  on  a  B.  M.  Find  H.  I.  Take  other  rod  readings 
on  various  places  and  find  their  elevations.  Take  down 
the  level,  repack  it  properly  in  its  box,  and  put  it  away. 
Put  the  rod  away. 
Jjearn  to  use  both  the  target  rod  and  the  speaking  rod 


IV.     SURVEY  OF  A  TRIANGLE. 


INFORMATION. 

50.    Reading  an  Angle. 

Set  up  the  transit  over  the  mark  at  the  vertex  of  the  angle. 
Clamp  the  plate.  Set  the  line  of  sight  on  the  object  which 
marks  the  left  hand  side  of  the  angle,  using  the  spindle 
clamp  and  slow  motion  screw.  See  that  the  plate  levels 
read  level. 

Read  the  plate.     Record  the  readings. 

See  that  the  line  of  sight  still  strikes  the  object  on  which 
it  was  set. 

By  repeated  examinations  make  sure  the  transit  is  stable, 
level,  the  line  of  sight  on  the  object,  and  the  plate  reading^ 
recorded  correctly. 

Release  the  plate  clamp. 

Set  the  line  of  sight  on  the  object  which  marks  the  right 
hand  side  of  the  angle,  using  the  plate  clamp  and  slow 
motion  screw. 

See  if  the  plate  levels  read  level.  If  much  out,  repeat  all  the 
previous  work  and  adjust  these  levels  if  necessary.  So 
make  sure  of  the  setting  of  the  transit  for  the  second  ob- 
ject. 

Read  the  plate.     Record  the  readings. 

See  that  the  line  of  sight  still  strikes  the  object  upon  which 
it  was  last  set. 

Release  the  plate  clamp. 

Set  the  line  of  sight  again  on  the  left  hand  object,  using  the 
plate  clamp  and  slow  motion  screw. 

See  that  the  plate  levels  read  level. 

Read  the  plate.    Record  the  readings. 

See  that  the  line  of  sight  still  strikes  the  left  hand  object. 


52  IV.      SURVEY  OF  A  TRIANGLE 

See  if  the  first  and  last  readings  are  alike,  or  nearly  so.     If 

not,  repeat  the  work  till  they  are. 
Follow  the  form  herewith. 
Reduce  the  value  of  the  angle  by  one  of  the  methods  shown. 


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IV.     SURVEY  OF  A  TRIANGLE. 

F1EU3WORK. 

51.  Outfit. 

Transit. 
Measuring  set. 
Axe,  stakes,  and  nails. 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  be  liable  for  defects  found 
upon  their  return. 

52.  Stake  out  a  triangle  with  sides  about  500  ft.  long.     Esti- 

mate their  length. 

Designate  the  stakes  by  A,  B,  C. 

Record  a  description  of  each  stake,  and  its  general  location, 
under  its  letter,  in  the  note  book.  Take  four,  or  more, 
witnesses  to  each  stake.  Record  these  witnesses  with  the 
description  of  the  stake. 

®  A.  Is  a  nail  in  a  stake  i"  x  2"  driven  flush  with  the 
ground  in  the  S.W.  corner  of  the  second  field  N.W.  of 
John  Smith's  house  on  the  N.E.  side  of  the  South  Ypsi- 
lanti  Road  about  itf.  miles  S.E'ly  from  State  St.  in  Ann 
Arbor,  Mich.,  from  which  a 

Witnesses.     Swamp  Oak  14"  in  diameter,  bears  N.  about 
50°  W.  8' .45  to  its  center,  and  a 
Pear  tree  6"  bears  N.  about  25°  E.  i84'-7  to  cen- 
Spike  in  root  of  Soft  Maple  20"  S.  86°?  E.   42'.  19. 
4'. 3  W'ly  to  range  of  E'ly  corner  of  barn  about  10  rods 
S'ly,  and  the  peak  of  the  N.E'ly  gable  of  the  next  dwelling 
S.E'ly  from  said  barn  on  S.W'ly  side  of  highway,  above 
named. 

Similarly  for  ®B  and  ®C. 

Read,  record,  and  reduce,  the  angles  of  this  triangle,  follow- 
ing the  instructions  and  form,  given  above. 

Use  small  marks  to  sight  to, — a  nail,  a  spike,  or  a  pencil. 

Measure  the  sides  of  this  triangle,  with  the  steel  tapes. 

Record  these  measurements. 

Verify  the  work  by  adding  the  angles,  and  by  the  sine  equa- 
tion, fr  sin  A  =  a  sin  B,  &c.  Record  the  discrepancies. 


54  IV.      TWENTY  ROD  READINGS 

IV.     TWENTY  ROD  READINGS 

On  the  Same  B.  M. 


53.  Outfit. 

Level. 

Leveling  Rod,  —  target  rod. 
Axe,  and  a  stake. 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  be  liable  for  defects  found 
upon  their  return. 

54.  Directions. 

Set  up  the  level  firmly  and  level  it  carefully. 

Drive  the  stake  350  or  400  ft.,  estimated,  away  from  the 

level,  about  flush  with  the  ground. 
Rodman  take  leveler's  note  book. 
Rodman  hold  up  the  rod  on  top  of  the  stake. 
Set  the  target  as  precisely  as  possible.     Be  sure  the  bubble 

reads  level. 
Rodman  record  the  reading  of  the  rod  in  the  leveler's  book 

according  to  the  form  below,  without  calling  off  the  same. 
Leveler  start  the  leveling  screws  sufficiently  to  throw  the 

bubble  away  from  its  level  reading.     Do  not  disturb  the 

level  otherwise. 

Level  the  instrument  again  carefully. 
Take  a  second  rod  reading  as  precisely  as  possible. 
Rodman  record  the  reading  as  before. 
Start  the  leveling  screws  again. 
Repeat  these  operations,  using  the  utmost  care,  until  there 

are  twenty  rod  readings  recorded  in  the  leveler's  book. 
Change  places,  and  do  the  same  work  again. 
Add  the  twenty  rod  readings. 
Divide  the  sum  by  20. 
Subtract  each  rod   reading  from  the  quotient,  or  average 

reading. 

Record  the  discrepancies,  each  with  its  proper  sign. 
Add  them.    See  if  their  total  sum  is  zero. 
This  is  a  device  sometimes  used  to  check  the  average  result. 

It  is  not  a  very  safe  check,  as  it  does  not  verify  the  various 

steps  in  the  process. 


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V.     READING  ANGLES.     CLOSING  THE  HORIZON. 

FIELD  WORK. 

55.  Outfit. 

Transit. 

Axe,  and  a  stake  and  nail. 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  be  liable  for  defects  found 
upon  their  return. 

56.  Directions. 

Take  the  .transit  to  a  place  commanding'  a  view  around  the 
horizon. 

Drive  the  stake  flush  with  the  ground  and  drive  the  nail  in 
its  top. 

Set  up  the  transit  firmly.    Level  it  carefully. 

Select  five,  or  more,  objects  at  distances  away  of  from  half  a 
mile  to  two  miles,  so  as  to  divide  the  space  around  the 
horizon  into  five,  or  more,  angles. 

Read,  and  record,  each  of  these  angles  separately.. 

Each  person  read  each  angle  independently. 

Do  not  set  the  plates  to  read  zero. 

For  the  nearer  objects  use  a  joint  in  the  brick  work  of  a 
chimney,  a  sash  bar  in  a  window,  or  some  similar  small 
object  to  sight  to.  At  a  greater  distance  the  corner  board 
on  a  house,  the  post  on  a  porch,  the  finial  on  a  cupola,  or 
some  similar  somewhat  larger  object  that  can  be  bisected 
precisely,  make  suitable  marks  to  sight  to. 

Reduce  the  angles. 

Add  them.     See  if  the  sum  equals  360°. 

Record  the  discrepancy. 


56  V.      PEG  IvEVELS.      SHORT  CIRCUIT 

V.     PEG  LEVELS.     SHORT  CIRCUIT. 


57.  Outfit. 

Level. 

Leveling  Rod. 

Axe.    Pegs.    Piece  of  chalk. 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  he  liable  for  defects  found 
upon  their  return. 

58.  Directions. 

To  find  the  difference  in  elevation  between  two  objects  not 
far  apart.  Involves  three  or  four  settings  of  the  level. 
Done  to  learn  the  process.  Follow  the  form,  given  below. 
for  the  record. 

Set  up  the  level  firmly,  not  over  350  ft.  away  from  the  place 
from  which  the  leveling  is  to  proceed,  and  where  it  will 
be  convenient  to  continue  towards  the  place  the  levels  are 
to  run  to.  Level  the  instrument  carefully. 

Take  a  rod  reading  with  precision  on  B.  M. 

Record  it  in  the  -f-  S  column. 

Rodman  find  a  suitable  place  for  a  turning  point  not  over 
350  ft.  from  the  level  and  where  it  will  be  convenient  for 
continuing  the  leveling.  Such  places  are  tops  of  stones 
fast  in  the  ground,  tops  of  curbs,  cement,  or  stone,  walks. 
cross  walks,  or  tops  of  hydrants.  On  a  large  surface  like 
a  curb  or  cross  walk  mark  the  place  the  rod  is  held  up  on 
with  chalk,  or  otherwise,  so  it  cannot  be  mistaken,  and 
can  be  found  again.  If  no  such  place  is  found,  drive  a  peg 
in  the  ground  till  it  stands  firm  and  is  nearly  flush  with  tin- 
surface.  Use  the  top  of  this  peg  for  a  turning  point. 

Take  a  rod  reading  with  precision  on  T.  P.  (turning  point  V 

Record  it  in  the  —  S  column  on  the  next  line  below  the  last 
rod  reading  in  the  -f-  S  column. 

Take  up  the  level,  —  after  the  record  is  made,  not  too  quickly. 

Set  it  up  not  over  350  ft.  beyond  the  T.  P.  on  the  way  tin- 
levels  are  to  go. 


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V.       1'1'V,    l.KVKI.S.      SHORT   CIRCUIT  57 

Take  a  rod  reading  with  precision  on  the  T.  P. 

Record  it  in  the  -f-  S  column  on  the  same  line  as  the  last 

rod  reading  in  the  —  S  column. 
Rodman,  find,  or  make,  the  next  T.  P. 
Take  a  rod  reading  on  it,  as  before. 
Record  this  in  the  —  S  column  on  the  next  line  below  the 

last  rod  reading  in  the  -(-  S  column. 
Move  the  level,  as  before. 
Continue  the  work   in  this  manner  until  a  rod  reading  is 

taken  on  the  place  to  which  the  levels  run  and  is  recorded 

in  the  —  S  column. 
Let  the  level  stand. 

Continue  the'  record  as  above  outlined,  and  as  per  form. 
Leveler  take  the  rod.    Rodman  take  the  level. 
Repeat  the  rod  reading  on  the  place  the  levels  were  run  to, 

preparatory  to  returning  on  the  same  pegs. 
Record  this  in  the  second  -f-  S  column  on  the  same  line  as 

the  previous  rod  reading  on  the  same  place  in  the  first  —  S 

column. 

Repeat  the  rod  reading  on  the  last  T.  P. 
Record  this  in  the  second  —  S  column  on  the  next  line  above 

the  last  rod  reading  in  the  second  -(-  S  column. 
Move  the  level. 
Continue  the  work  back  to  the  starting  place,  until  a  rod 

reading  is  taken  on  the  B.  M.  where  the  levels  began. 
Record  the  successive  rod  readings  in  the  second  -(-  S  and 

—  S  columns,  proceeding  up  the  page  as  in  the  form. 
Add  the  rod  readings  in  each  -j-  S  column. 
Add  the  rod  readings  in  each  —  S  column. 
Add,  with  their  signs,  each  pair  of  these  sums,  that  is,  find 

the  algebraic  sum  of  the  rod  readings  taken  on  the  way 

out,  and  of  those  taken  on  the  way  back. 
See  if  these  results  have  opposite  signs  and  are  nearly  equal. 

If  not,  repeat  the  work  and  correct  the  errors.     There  is 

no  way  of  finding  an  error  in  such  work  except  by  repeat- 
ing the  work.     A  plus  result  shows  the  place  at  the  end 

of  the  run  to  be  higher,  and  a  minus  result,  lower,  than  the 

starting  place. 


58  v.     PEG  i.i;\  i;i,s.     SHORT  CIRCUIT 

Add  the  rod  readings,  with  their  signs,  in  pairs,  that  were 
taken  at  each  setting  of  the  level,  as  -f  6.381  and  —  11.592, 
giving  —  5.211  as  the  distance  the  first  T.  P.  is  below  the 
B.  M.  Enter  these  sums,  with  their  signs,  in  columns,  be- 
side the  rod  readings  that  gave  them,  both  going  and  re- 
turning. For  convenient  comparison  the  figures  may  be 
arranged  as  in  the  form.  There  may  be  found  greater 
discrepancies  in  the  figures  showing  the  difference  in  ele- 
vation between  the  same  two  T.  P's  going,  and  returning, 
than  appears  for  the  entire  circuit.  In  the  form,  the  dis- 
crepancy for  the  circuit  is  1.764  —  1.760  =  0.004,  while 
between  the  first  and  second  T.  P.s  the  discrepancy  is 
7.835  —  7.829  =  0.006.  It  may  also  be  noticed  that  these 
discrepancies  arc  in  opposite  directions.  Such  compari- 
sons show  the  so-called  "Closing  error"  of  a  leveled  cir- 
cuit to  have  only  a  general  value,  and  that  discrepancies  in 
such  work  are  compensating. 

If  it  is  impracticable  to  use  the  same  T.  P.s,  going  and  re- 
turning, the  two  lines  of  levels  will  have  no  connection 
except  at  their  ends  and  the  above  comparisons  cannot  be 
'  •  made. 


VI.     TRAVERSING. 


59.  Outfit. 

Transit. 
Measuring  set. 
Two  line  staves. 
Axe,  stakes,  and  nails. 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  be  liable  for  defects  found 
upon  their  return. 

60.  Directions. 

A  field  with  s"even  sides,  and  one  reentrant  angle.  No  side 
less  than  500  feet.  To  enclose  from  30  to  40  acres. 

61.  Stake  out  the  field. 

Designate  the  stakes  by  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  and  G. 

Record  a  description  of  each  stake,  and  its  general  location, 
under  its  letter,  in  the  note  book.  Take  four,  or  more, 
witnesses  to  each  stake.  Record  these  witnesses  with  de- 
scription of  stake. 

62.  Forms  of  record. 

Field  of  seven  sides  situated  between  Packard  street  and  the 
Ann  Arbor  railroad  south  of  Hill  street,  and  north  of  the 
E.  £  W.  Y4  line  of  Section  32,  T.  2  S.  R.  6  E.  Mer.  of 
Mich.  A,  B,  C,  D,  E,  F,  G,  designate  the  vertices  of  the 
angles  in  the  boundaries  of  this  field. 

®  A.  Is  a  nail  in  a  stake  driven  flush  with  the  ground,  stand- 
ing on  the  third  prominent  ridge  N.  of  the  Detroit  Obser- 
vatory, Ann  Arbor,  Mich.,  from  which  a 

Witnesses.  Hickory,  12"  in  diameter,  bears  N.  about  55°  E., 
72'.  3  to  its  center,  and  a 

P..    Walnut  27"  hoars  S.  about  35°  E.  26i'.4  to  cen. 


6o  VI.       TRAVERSING 

Spike  in  root  of  Sycamore  32",  S.  about  45°  W.  47'.  13. 
Spike  E.  face  of  brick  wall  near  S.E.  corner  of  barn,  N.W'ly 


Field  notes  of  traverse  to  read  from  bottom  of  page 
upward. 

63.  Measure  the  sides. 
Measure  down  hill. 

As  each  measurement  is  made  enter  it  in  the  sixth  column 
of  the  record  on.  the  line  with  the  note  in  the  third  column, 
showing  in  which  direction  the  measurement  proceeded. 
See  form  of  record  following. 

64.  Instrument  work. 

Set  up  the  transit  at  any  station,  as  A. 

Backsight  to  G  by  means  of  either  clamp  and  slow  motion 

screw,  the  other  clamp  being  clamped. 
Read  both  plate  verniers.    Record  these  readings  in  the  two 

left  hand  columns  of  the  field  notes  at  the  bottom  of  the 

page,  with  a  note  in  the  third  column  that  the  pointing  is 

from  A  to  G,  —  all  as  shown  in  the  form  of  notes. 
Take  another  look  at  the  verniers  and  backsight,  to  make 

sure  the  pointing  is  exact  and  the  vernier  readings  cor- 

rectly recorded.  . 
Release  the  plate  clamp. 
Set  the  line  of  sight  on  the  mark  at  B  by  means  of  the  plate 

clamp  and  slow  motion  screw. 
Read  both   plate  verniers.     Record   these   readings   in   the 

fourth  and  fifth  columns  of  the  notes  on  the  next  line  above 

the  last  entry,  with  a  note  in  the  third  column  that  the 

pointing  is  from  A  to  B. 
Release  the  plate  clamp.    Set  the  line  of  sight  again  on  A  G 

by  means  of  the  plate  clamp  and  slow  motion  screw. 
Read  both  plate  verniers.    See  if  these  readings  agree  sufficient- 

ly well  with  those  when  the  first  pointing  A  to  G  was  made. 
.     If  not,  repeat  the  work  till  they  will.     Record  these  read- 


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VI.       TUAVKUSING  6 1 

ings  in  the  two  left  hand  columns  of  the  notes  on  the  line 
next  above  the  last  entry,  with  a  note,  in  the  third  column 
that  the  pointing  is  from  A  to  G. 

Again  direct  the  telescope  to  B,  and  set  up  a  picket  behind 
the  eyepiece,  facing  B, — if  pickets  are  used. 

Move  the  transit  and  set  it  up  at  B. 

Set  the  plate  verniers  at  the  same  readings  they  had  when 
the  pointing  was  from  A  to  B, — each  vernier  at  its  orig- 
inal reading, — do  not  exchange  them. 

Set  the  line  of  sight  on  A,  by  means  of  the  spindle  clamp 
and  slow  motion  screw. 

Read  both  plate  verniers.  Record  these  readings  in  the  first 
and  second  columns  of  the  notes,  with  a  note  in  the  third 
column  showing  the  pointing  to  be  from  B  to  A. 

Leave  one  space  blank  between  these  and  the  last  previous 
entries. 

Compare  these  entries  in  the  first  and  second  columns  with 
the  last  previous  ones  in  the  fourth  and  fifth  columns.  If 
they  are  not  the  same,  or  as  nearly  so  as  can  be,  repeat 
the  setting  of  the  plate  verniers  and  the  pointing  from  B 
to  A,  till  these  records  agree. 

Look  once  more  at  the  verniers,  and  be  sure  they  read  cor- 
rectly. Also  notice  the  pointing  and  make  sure  it  is  exact. 

Release  the  plate  clamp. 

Set  the  line  of  sight  on  C,  by  means  of  the  plate  clamp  and 
slow  motion  screw. 

Read  both  plate  verniers.  Record  these  readings  in  the 
fourth  and  fifth  columns  of  the  notes  on  the  next  line  above 
the  last  entries,  with  a  note  in  the  third  column  showing 
the  pointing  to  be  from  B  to  C. 

Release  the  plate  clamp.  Set  the  line  of  sight  again  on  B  A 
by  means  of  the  plate  clamp  and  slow  motion  screw. 

Read  both  plate  verniers.  See  if  these  readings  agree  suffi- 
ciently well  with  those  when  the  first  pointing  B  to  A  was 
made.  If  not,  repeat  the  work  till  they  will.  Record 
these  readings  in  the  two  left  hand  columns' of  the  notes 
on  the  line  next  above  the  last  entry,  with  a  note  in  the 
third  column  that  the  pointing  is  from  B  to  A. 


VI.      REG  I,EVJ$IvS.     U>NG  CIRCUIT 


Again  direct  the  telescope  to  C,  and  set  up  a  picket  behind 
the  eyepiece,  facing  C,  —  if  pickets  are  used. 

Move  the  transit  and  set  it  up  at  C. 

Repeat  the  same  operations  there,  using  first  the  plate  read- 
ings obtained  when  sighting  from  B  to  C.  Proceed  in  this 
way  around  the  field  until  the  transit  is  set  up  at  G.  When 
the  plate  readings  for  the  pointing  G  to  A  are  recorded, 
they  should  be  the  same  as  the  plate  readings  when  the 
pointing  A  to  G  was  taken,  with  the  readings  exchanged 
between  the  verniers.  If  this  is  not  the  case  review  the 
work  and  correct  the  errors. 

In  a  field  with  an  even  number  of  sides  the  readings  will  not 
be  exchanged  between  the  verniers. 


VI.     PEG  LEVELS.     LONG  CIRCUIT. 

FIEU)WORK. 

65.  Outfit. 

Level. 

Leveling  rod. 

Axe.  Pegs.    Piece  of  chalk. 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  be  liable  for  defects  found 
upon  their  return. 

66.  Directions. 

Run  peg  levels  from  the  U.  S.  eGol.  Stir.  B.  M.— El.  874.976, 
— in  the  south  door  of  the  Mechanical  Laboratory  and 
find  the  elevation  of  some  other  B.  M.  a  mile,  or  so,  away, 
and  involving  from  18  to  30  settings  of  the  level,  due  to 
the  distance,  or  difference  in  elevation.  Make  the  record 
show  the  closing  error,  and  the  discrepancies  peg  by  peg, 
if  practicable.  Follow  the  instructions  for  peg  levels  given 
under  V. 


VII.  COMPUTING  AND  PLATTING  TRAVERSE. 

OFFICE  WORK. 

67.  Outfit. 

Field  notes  of  traverse  survey. 

68.  Traverse  Angles. 

Beginning  in  the  central  part  of  the  notes,  check  off  either 
vernier  reading  for  the  traverse  angle  of  the  side  along 
which  the  forward  pointing  was  made,  that  is,  in  those 
columns  marked  "Foresights."  Proceeding  each  way  from 
this  traverse  angle  check  off  vernier  readings,  alternately 
in  "Ver.  A','  column  and  "Ver.  B"  column,  for  the  for- 
ward pointings  along  the  several  lines,  till  a  traverse  angle 
is  marked  for  each  side  of  the  survey. 

69.  Prepare  book. 

Make  eight  columns,  about  an  inch  and  a  quarter  wide,  across 
the  open  field  note  book,  using  the  following  headings: 
Trav.  Ang.    Dist.   -\- s  —  j-f^  —  c-x  y  • 

70     Enter  notes  in  above  form. 

Enter  in  the  first  column  the  traverse  angles  checked  off  in 
the  field  notes,  and  in  the  second  column  on  the  same  line 
with  each  traverse  angle,  the  length  of  the  side  to  which 
it  belongs.  Leave  a  blank  above  each  entry. 

71.    Compute  the  traverses,  s  and  c. 

A  —-  traverse  angle  of  any  side. 
d  =  length  of  the  side  A  belongs  to, — always  plus. 

Signs  of  sin.  A  and  cos.  A  are  according  to  the  quadrant  in 
which  A  ends. 

Compute  —  s=ds'm.  A. 
and  —  c  =  d  cos.  A. 


64  VII.       COMPILING  AND  PLATTING  TRAVERSE 

Sample  computation. 

s  c 

2.528274  337.50             2.528274 

9.820774  41°  26'  30"        9-874847 

2.349048  2.403121 

+223.38  +253.00 

Take.  out  the  results  to  the  second  decimal  place,  only. 
Knter  these  values  of  ^  and  c  in  their  proper  columns  against 

the  values  of  d  from  which  they  came. 
Find  2  s  and  2,  c.     Both  should  equal  zero. 

72.  Errors. 

In  case  the  difference  from  zero  of  2,  s  and  2,  c  is  large. 

review  all  the  figures  from  the  checking  off  of  the  vernier 

readings,  and  correct  all  errors  found. 
If  the  difference  from  zero  is  still  large,  review,  and  verify, 

the  work  in  the  field. 
When  the  errors  are  found  and  corrected  2  s  and  5  r  will 

nearly  equal  zero. 

73.  Balancing  traverses. 

Find  and  correct  all  errors  that  can  be  found,  and  bring  2  s 
and  2  c  as  nearly  to  zero  as  practicable  before  applying 
any  corrections. 

Compute  the  corrections  for  any  traverse  by  the  following 
equations  : 

For  the  sine  traverses, 


For  the  cosine  traverses, 


Use  the  different  values  of  d  in  succession  to  obtain  the  cor- 
rections for  the  traverses  of  the  various  sides.  Subtract 
these  corrections  from  the  traverses  to  which  they  apply, 
observing  all  signs. 


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VII.       COM1MUXG  AND  PLATTING  TRAVERSE  65 

Enter  the  corrected  values  of  the  traverses  in  the  blank 
spaces  above  the  traverses  as  first  computed.  Draw  neat 
pencil  marks  through  the  former  values. 

Find  2.  J  and  2  c  anew,  using  the  corrected  traverses.  They 
may  still  not  quite  equal  zero.  In  this  case  apply  any 
small  remaining  errors  to  the  traverses  of  one  or  more  of 
those  sides  the  field  data  for  which  is  most  open  to  sus- 
picion of  being  erroneous.  In  case  there  are  no  such  sides 
apply  the  final  corrections  to  the  traverses  of  the  longest 
side,  or  sides. 

By  repeating  the  first  corrections  a  second  or  even  a  third 
time,  in  the  case  of  some  very  poor  work,  and  by  distrib- 
uting the  small  remaining  errors  as  above  directed,  finally 
bring  2  5  and  2  c,  both  to  actual  zero. 

.    Computing  coordinates,  x  and  y. 

.\-  =  2  s  y  =  2  c. 

Observe  all  signs  carefully. 

Find  the  sum  of  the  sine  traverses  to  the  end  of  each  side  of 
the  field  in  succession,  for  the  values  of  x.  Similarly,  sum 
the  cosine  traverses  for  the  values  of  y.  The  last  x  and 
the  last  y  must  be  zero. 

75.    Prepare  book. 

Make  four  columns  about  two  inches  wide,  two  on  each 
page  of  the  open  field  note  book,  using  the  following 
headings : 

+  D.A.       —  D.A.       +D.A.      ---D.A. 
D.  A.  means  double  area. 

i.    Compute  D.  A. 

D.A.  =2—  Ofe  (Cn  +  Cn  +  l) 

=  S  +  #n   (*n  +  *n  +  l) 
=  I  —  Cn   (Xn  -  1  H-  Xn) 
=  S  +  Sn   (Vn  -  1   +  1/n) 
=   ^  —  Xn  (t/n  +  1  —  t/n  -  l) 
=  S  -f  1/n   (*„  +  1  -  Xn  _  ,) 


66  VII.       COMPILING  AND  PLATTING  TRAV1CRSK 

( )bscrve  all  signs  carefully. 

Use  two  of  these  forms. 

Enter  the  results  obtained  by  the  two  different  forms,  on 
the  two  different  pages,  the  -\-  results  in  the  -\-D.A.  col- 
umns and  the  —  results  in  the  —  D.  A.  columns. 

Do  not  use  logarithms  in  these  computations  of  D.A.,  but 
natural  numbers.  Take  both  decimals  in  all  the  values 
of  s,  c,  x,  and  y,  thus  giving  four  decimals  in  each  product. 

Sum  the  products  on  each  page  for  the  double  area  of  the 
field.  These  sums  must  be  identical  out  to  the  last  right 
hand  figure. 

Divide  the  double  area  by  2  to  get  the  area  of  the  field.  Re- 
duce the  area  to  acres. 

77.    Directions.     Platting. 

Each  person  make  a  plat  of  the  traversed  field,  on  cross  ruled 

paper.     See  Sec.  10. 

Select  the  origin  and  axes  of  coordinates.     Assume  a  scale.- 
Count  off  the  coordinates  of  A,  B,  C,  &c.,  and  mark  them  on 

the  paper. 
Measure  A  to*  B.,  B  to  C,  &c.,  to  scale  on  the  paper.     See  if 

these  measures  agree  with  those  made  on  the  ground.     Tf 

not,  correct  the  platting. 
Join  A  and  B,  B  and  C,  &c.,  by  plain  black  lines,  not  too 

broad. 

Complete  the  plat  according  to  the  instructions  in  Sec.   10. 
Fasten  the  plat  in  the  field  note  book  to  the  stub  of  a  cut 

out  leaf. 
The  axis  of  Y  is  the  reference  line  and  the  -f-  direction  is  o° 

for  the  traverse  angles.     If  the  plate  readings  that  were 

not  checked  had  been  taken  as  the  traverse  angles  the  o° 

would  have  been  in  the  opposite  direction. 


COMPUTATIONS   RELATI 

SYMBOLIC 

TRAV 
ANGLE 

DI5T. 

TRAVERSES 

COOP  DIN  A  TES 

A 

d 

s   d  sin  A 

c-  d  co-s  A 

x-  r  s 

Y'E  c 

A 

d 

s  -d  sin  A 

c  -d  cos  A 

X  -    S 

V  -    C 

'  i 

t      i          i 

ii            i 

I           I 

^  /           / 

A 

d 

s  -.d  sin  A 

•c  -d  cos  A 

X   -  X  *  S 

V  .  VfC 

2         4                     2 

2         ?                    2 

27            S 

z   '  i      2 

A 

d 

S    .  d   $mA 

c  --d  cos  A 

X    -X   +  S 

v=  v  +  c 

5 

3 

33                3 

33                     3 

323 

«^3    J2       J 

A 

d 

s  -  d  sin  A 

c  •  d    cos  A 

X   -  X   +  S 

V-  V  +C 

44-                    4- 

etc 

etc 

etc 

etc 

etc. 

etc. 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

to 

A 

d 

S  =  d    sinA 

c  *d    cos  A 

X   .X-+S 

V-  V  +  & 

When   co 

rrec/ed 

IfX  •  a 

rfv  -  b\ 

r  s~  o 

r  c  =  o 

m 
X  =  Ct'Z  S 

'm 
V    b'H\ 

Observe  oil  signs 

Plat  is  made 

bv  coordinates  \ 

G  TO  A  CLOSED  SURVEV 


L  7'ABLE 


tUBLE 
TEA 

DOUBLE 
AREA 

DOUBLE 
AREA 

DOUBLE 
AREA 

DOUBLE 
AREA 

DOUBLE 
AREA 

(c+C     \ 

V    (S    +S     \ 

-C&  -  X) 

s(v  +  v  J 

-X   (V   -  V  J 

yfx  -X 

\  n    my 

'h(n      kfj 

n(n  i     n> 

n"  n'J 

~n\  n.i    n-i) 

re  +c 

V  fs  +  s    i 

-c  pr  ^x  1 

s(v  *  v  ) 

--X  (V  -V     i 

Y  (*,-xn)  } 

(c  +c    } 

V   (S  *.>      ) 

-  C  (X  +X     } 

s  (v  +  v    ) 

-x  fv  _v  ) 

V  fX  -  X     \ 

2        3  / 

"  2  \    2        3  J 

2l"/       J    $>J 

2k    3    '  l  J 

*f\    a      TJ 

fc  -f-c   } 

y  fs-r  s  } 

-c  '/X  t-jf  } 

s  /v  -t-  y  } 

-x  fv  -y  ) 

v  fx  —x    ) 

1    3        4-J 

s  3(   3      4j 

3(     2       3/ 

3  ("2    <>3j 

3("  4-  J  2' 

J3  (     *       & 

(CfC    } 

V  (S  +  S    } 

-C  (Jf  +X    ) 

s  (v  +y  \ 

-x     v-y  ) 

V  (X  -X      } 

1(4      Sj 

"  4\  4       5J 

W    3      4J 

4  ("  3    ^  4j 

4-    "5  ^3j 

"4\   S       3J 

etc. 

etc 

etc 

etc 

etc 

etc. 

(o 

lo 

to 

to 

to 

to 

'c  +  c  } 

V  fS-f  S    \ 

-  c  fx  -*  x 

s  (v  -f  y  ) 

-x  /v-v    \ 

V  fX-X       } 

m      7/ 

"7fi^   m      i  J 

m(  rn-j   m 

my'm-i    rnj 

m\"  )     Jm-ij 

"m    i     fn-jj 

Sum  of  entries  in  any  double   area  column 


equals  doub/e  area  of  piece       Use  two  columns. 

VII.      PROF1LF,  UCVKUNG  67 

VII.     PROFILE  LEVELING. 

FIELD  WORK.    PARTY  OF  FOUR  PERSONS. 

78.  Outfit. 

Transit. 

Measuring  set. 

Two  line  staves. 

Axe.     30  or  35  stakes.     3  or  4  plugs.     Nails.     Marking 

chalk. 
Levels, — 2. 
Leveling  rods,  2. 
Axe.     Pegs,— about  50. 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  be  liable  for  defects  found 
upon  their  return. 

79.  Directions. 

On  rough  ground  select  a  place  where  a  straight  line  about 

3000  ft.  long  can  be  laid  out,  and  either  end  of  it  seen  from 

the  other. 
Drive  a  plug  with  nail  in  same,  to  mark  the  end  of  the  line 

where  the  measuring  is  to  begin, — or  zero  end. 
Witness  this  plug.     Record  full  information  about  it. 
Mark  a  stake  with  the  line  mark  and  the  numeral  o. 
Drive  this  stake  about  a  foot  to  the  right  of  the  plug,  as  the 

line  will  run,  with  the  marks  facing  away  from  the  other 

end  of  the  line. 

Set  up  the  transit  over  the  nail  in  this  plug. 
Drive  another  plug  with  nail  to  mark  the  line  near  its  other 

end. 

Witness  this  plug.     Record  full  information  about  it. 
Hold  up  a  line  staff  on  the  nail  in  this  plug. 
Set  the  line  of  sight  of  the  transit  on  the  line  staff. 
Take  away  the  line  staff. 
Set  a  picket  in  line  beyond  the  distant  plug, — or  any  suitable 

mark  to  keep  the  line  by, — or  find  some  object  in  exact 

line  to  be  used  to  sight  to  for  line. 


68  VII.      PROl-ILE  LEVELING 

Hold  up  the  line  staff  again,  on  the  nail  in  the  distant  plug. 

See  if  the  cross  wire  bisects  it  exactly.  If  not,  review  the 
work  and  correct  the  errors,  till  sure  the  distant  mark  is 
in  exact  line 

Call  back  the  line  staff. 

Watch  the  transit  while  laying  out  the  line ;  by  frequent  ref- 
erences to  the  distant  mark  for  line;  by  looking  at  the 
plate  levels  to  see  that  the  bubbles  read  level,  especially  the 
one  parallel  to  the  transit  axis ;  and  occasionally  examin- 
ing the  plumb  bob  to  see  if  it  keeps  exactly  over  the  nail 
in  the  plug. 

Measure  100  ft.  from  the  nail  under  the  transit  in  the  direc- 
tion the  line  is  to  go. 

Get  line  at  the  end  of  the  100  ft.  with  the  line  staff. 

Mark  a  stake  with  the  line  mark  and  the  numeral  i. 

Drive  this  stake  at  the  end  of  the  100  ft.  on  the  line,  and 
with  the  marks  facing  the  plug  where  the  transit  stands. 

Drive  the  stake  so  it  stands  plumb  and  is  firmly  set. 

Test  it  for  line  and  distance.  Correct  it  for  either,  or  both, 
by  pounding  the  ground  close  beside  the  stake,  but  leave 
it  plumb  and  firm.  Move  it  if  necessary. 

Measure  again  and  mark  100  ft.  on  top  of  the. stake. 

Get  line  on  the  stake  at  the  end  of  the  100  ft. 

Drive  a  small  nail  in  the  top  of  the  stake  to  mark  station  i 
at  just  100  ft.  from  station  o, — the  nail  under  the  transit, 
— and  in  line. 

Measure  on  100  ft.  beyond  i  and  set  and  mark  2  with  the 
same  care  and  precautions  used  at  i. 

Continue  setting  stakes  in  this  manner  until  the  whole  line 
is  marked  or  some  place  is  reached  where  it  becomes  nec- 
essary to  move  up  the  transit  in  order  to  see  to  give  line 
for  the  stakes. 

Choose  a  place  for  a  new  transit  plug  from  which  the  distant 
line  mark  can  be  seen  and  also  the  succeeding  stakes  to  be 
set. 

Look  over  the  transit  and  see  that  it  is  over  the  nail,  is  level, 
and  the  line  of  sight  is  on  the  distant  mark. 

dive  line  for  the  new  ping. 


vii.    PROFILE;  LEVEUNG  69 

While  the  plug  is  being  driven  look  the  transit  over  again 
for  position,  level,  and  line,  and  be  ready  to  give  line  at 
once. 

Get  line  on  the  plug  with  the  line  staff. 

Mark  the  place. 

Take  away  the  line  staff. 

See  that  the  line  of  sight  strikes  the  distant  mark. 

If  not,  review  the  work  and  correct  the  errors  until  it  will. 

Signal  "All  right." 

Drive  a  nail,  not  quite  down,  at  the  mark  on  the  plug. 

Call  up  the  transit. 

While  the  transit  is  coming,  measure  the  plus  from  the  pre- 
ceding stake  and  record  this  plus  and  any  other  informa- 
tion about  this  plug. 

Mark  a  stake  .with  the  line  mark  and  station  number  and 
plus  for  this  plug,  and  drive  it  about  a  foot  to  the  right 
of  the  plug. 

Set  up  the  transit  over  the  nail  in  the  new  plug. 

Set  its  line  of  sight  on  the  distant  mark. 

Measure  100  ft.  from  the  last  regular  station  set,  not  the 
transit  plug,  if  at  a  plus,  and  continue  setting  stakes,  as 
before. 

Continue  marking  the- line  somewhat  beyond  the  last  dis- 
tinctive depression,  or  rise,  on  the  line,  even  if  it  is  a  few 
hundred  feet  more  than  3000  ft.  long. 

This  is  the  manner  of  marking  what  is  called  a  "Located 
line"  in  Leveling  and  Earthwork. 

Divide  into  parties  of  two  persons. 

Find,  or  make,  a  B.  M.  at  each  end  of  the  line. 

Record  full  descriptions  of  these  benches. 

Find,  by  peg  levels,  the  elevation  of  one  of  them,  say  the 
one  at  the  zero  end  of  the  line,  or  assume  an  elevation 
for  it. 

With  one  of  the  levels  begin  leveling  from  the  B.  M.  at  the 
zero  end  of  the  line,  following  the  instructions  given  in 
Leveling  and  Earthwork  in  sections  I  to  13.  Section  10 
gives  special  instructions  about  Location  Levels,  such  as 
should  be. 


•jo  VII.      PROFILE  LEVELING 

With  the  other  level  begin  leveling  from  the  B.  M.  at  the 
other  end  of  the  line  following  the  same  instructions  ex- 
cept omitting  all  elevations. 

\Yhen  the  two  levelers  meet,  the  leveler  from  the  far  end 
of  the  line  take  a  precise  rod  reading  on  some  T.  P.  or 
B.  M.  whose  elevation  has  been  found  by  the  party  that 
began  at  the  zero  end  of  the  line. 

Party  No.  2  work  out  all  of  their  elevations. 

Both  parties  continue  leveling  till  each  has  covered  the  whole 
line  and  all  the  benches. 

Both  parties  run  "Check  Levels"  between  all  the  benches, — 
see  section  13  of  Leveling  and  Earthwork. 

Taking  the  B.  M.  at  the  zero  end  of  the  line  to  be  correct, 
both  parties  reduce  the  corrected  elevations  for  all  the 
benches. 

Take  the  half  sum  of  these  elevations  of  bench  marks  found 
by  each  party  as  their  corrected  elevations. 

Correct  all  the  elevations  of  stations,  plusses,  and  turning 
points,  between  benches  to  conform  to  the  corrected  eleva- 
tions of  the  benches. 

Agree  upon  the  corrected  elevations  of  every  place  where  a 
rod  reading  was  taken.  .  If  unable  to  agree  at  first,  both 
repeat  enough  of  the  work  on  the  ground  to  reach  an 
agreement. 

The  result  will  be  the  corrected  levels  for  this  line  from 
which  the  profile  is  to  be  made. 


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VIII.     PROFILE  AND  GRADE  LINE. 

OFFICE  WORK. 

Each  person  prepare  a  profile  of  the  3000  ft.  line  of  levels. 
With  advice  of  teachers,  each  person  fix  upon  a  grade  line 

on  profile  and  work  out  all  elevations  of  grade,  including 

vertical  curves. 
Follow  the  instructions  in  sections  14  to  22  of  Leveling  and 

Earthwork.  ' 


VIII.     STAKING  OUT  A  GRADE. 

80.    Information. 

If  the  last  mentioned  survey,  profile,  and  grade  line,  were 
for  a  railway,  highway,  or  similar  consturction,  follow 
Leveling  and  Earthwork,  from  section  23  on. 

For  a  canal  the  work  of  staking  out  is  similar  to  that  for  a 
railway  but  the  cross  sections  may  be  more  extended,  es- 
pecially where  the  canal  is  enclosed  by  banks,  or  where  the 
spoil  banks  are  staked  out.  However  no  additional  prin- 
ciples are  involved  more  than  are  given  in  Leveling  and 
Earthwork. 

In  making  surveys  for  any  excavation  over  a  considerable 
area,  as  for  a  large  building,  an  artificial  pond,  or  for 
grading,  follow  the  instructions  for  Borrow  Pits  given  in 
sections  41  and  45  in  Leveling  and  Earthwork.  For  filling 
a  piece  of  ground  the  work  is  similar.  Stakes,  or  poles, 
should  be  set  over  the  area  to  be  filled,  as  needed,  with 
tops  sufficiently  above  the  finished  grade  to  allow  for  set- 
tlement, see  Sec.  57  in  Leveling  and  Earthwork. 


VIII.      PROF1UC  AND  GRADlv  LINE 

A  survey  for  a  dam,  or  similar  structure,  involves  a  contour 
map  of  the  site,  as  well  as  a  survey  similar  to  that  for  a 
railway  for  a  short  distance,  namely,  along  the  dam  itself. 
If  an  earth,  or  rock  fill,  dam,  is  to  be  built  the  slope  on 
the  upstream  side  may  be  as  flat  as  i  on  3,  while  the  slope 
on  the  face  may  be  i  on  2.  The  whole  site  for  the  dam  should 
be  covered  by  borings  close  enough  and  carried  deep  enough, 
not  only  to  reveal  suitable  materials  for  supporting  the 
dam  and  that  will  hold  back  the  water  from  beneath  it, 
but  also  to  reveal  any  pockets  there  may  be  of  materials 
that  may  prove  dangerous.  The  borings  may  need  to  be 
extended  much  beyond  the  site  of  the  dam  itself.  Fre- 
quently, not  enough  borings  are  made.  This  is  true  for 
any  heavy  structure.  Such  should  not  be  undertaken  until 
the  knowledge  of  the  materials  below  ground  is  as  com- 
plete, and  as  trustworthy,  as  the  knowledge  of  those  on 
the  surface.  The  borings  may  have  to  be  as  close  as  5  ft. 
by  5  ft.,  in  extreme  cases.  Borings  should  be  surveyed 
and  mapped.  Then  profiles  of  any  materials  below  the 
surface  can  be  made  out  and  grades,  or  sub-grades,  fixed 
upon.  In  the  case  of  the  dam,  the  contour  survey  and  map 
may  be  extended  up  stream  as  far  as  the  pond  will  reach 
to  give  the  pondage. 

For  a  heavy  building,  the  remarks  about  borings  apply. 

The  same  is  true  for  chimneys,  towers,  bridge  abutments  or 
piers,  and  any  similar  structure. 

Men  do  not  always  remember  that  the  load  on  any  structure, 
as  well  as  the  weight  of  the  structure  itself,  must  at  last 
rest  on  the  ground,  and  that  the  ground  will  not  in  all  in- 
stances carry  "anything."  Still  more  frequently  is  it  for- 
gotten, or  disregarded,  that  the  load  on  each  square  foot 
of  the  materials  beneath  a  structure  should  be  proportioned 
to  the  carrying  capacity  of  those  materials,  if  uniform  set- 
tlement is  to  be  expected.  Especially  is  this  true  in  build- 
ings where  footings  beneath  posts  and  piers  are  made  too 
large  for  those  tinder  the  walls.  The  walls  settle  more 
than  the  piers,  floors  go  out  of  level,  and  machines  and 
shafting  arc  thrown  out  of  level.  .All  this  may  require  the 


VIII.       PROFILE  AND  GRADE  LINK  73 

various  materials  upon  which  a  structure  of  considerable- 
extent  is  to  rest  to  be  uncovered  so  as  to  be  examined  by 
the  engineer  and  perhaps  tests  made  by  applying  actual 
loads  to  ascertain  the  amounts  and  rates  of  settlement. 

In  staking  out  a  grade,  set  the  stakes  where  they  will  be  con- 
venient for  reference  by  the  workmen,  where  they  will  not 
be  dug  up  or  covered,  where  they  will  stand  firm,  and  be 
secure  from  disturbance.  The  same  stakes  can  sometimes 
be  used  for  both  line  and  grade,  as  the  "Track  centers"  on 
a  railway,  or  those  set  for  a  ditch  or  pipe  trench. 

On  any  kind  of  a  ditch,  or  pipe  trench,  decide  upon  which 
side  of  it  the.  excavated  materials  shall  be  placed,  so  as  to 
leave  the  other  side  clear,  for  access  of  men,  for  materials, 
and  for  any  work  that  may  be  required.  Fix  upon  a  berm, 
or  the  width  of  the  space,  between  the  excavated  materials 
and  the  side  of  the  ditch,  or  trench.  The  berm  will  depend 
upon  the  nature  of  the  materials  to  be  moved,  the  depth 
of  the  digging,  the  side  slope  of  the  work,  the  weather  to 
be  expected,  and  whether  curbing  is  to  be  used,  or  not. 
Set  the  grade  stakes  within  this  berm, — near  its  outer  edge, 
if  practicable.  If  the  same  stakes  are  used  for  both  line 
and  grade  the  transit  work  and  leveling  must  go  on  to- 
gether. Decide  upon  a  distance  between  the  center  line; 
of  the  work  as  marked  on  the  ground,  and  a  line  parallel 
thereto  where  stakes  are  to  be  set  by  the  transit  with  nails 
in  their  tops  to  mark  this  parallel  line  for  the  use  'of  the 
workmen.  Make  this  distance  even  feet,  or  some  simple 
number,  whenever  practicable.  Give  the  workmen  sticks 
cut  to  this  distance.  This  distance  may  have  to  be  differ- 
ent on  different  parts  of  the  work. 


VIII.      STAKING  OUT  A  GRADE 


VIII.     STAKING  OUT  A  GRADE. 


FIELD  WORK.      PARTY  OF  FOUR. 

81.  Outfit. 

Transit. 

Measuring  set. 

Line  staff. 

Axe.     2"  x  2"  stakes.     J/s"  x  2"  stakes.     Nails.     Marking 

chalk. 
Level. 

Leveling  rod. 
Axe.     Pegs. 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  be  liable  for  defects  found 
upon  their  return. 

82.  Directions. 

A  tile  drain,  a  pipe  trench,  a  ditch,  or  a  walk. 

Stakes  to  be  set  for  both  line  and  grade. 

Square  out  a  line  with  the  transit  from  the  center  line  at 
some  station,  or  transit  plug,  on  it. 

Drive  a  2"  x  2"  stake  on  this  squared  out  line  at  the  distance 
of  the  parallel  line  from  the  center  line. 

Drive  this  stake  till  it  stands  plumb  and  firm. 

Drive  a  small  nail  in  the  top  of  the  stake  at  exact  line  and 
distance. 

Mark  this  stake  with  the  number  of  the  transit  point,  or  mark 
another  //s"  x  2"  stake  with  this  number  and  drive  it  about 
a  foot  to  the  right  of  the  first. 

Set  another  2"  x  2"  stake,  measured,  lined,  and  marked,  in 
the  same  way  from  some  other  station  or  transit  plug  on 
the  center  line. 

Run,  measure,  and  mark,  with  2"  x  2"  stakes  and  nails,  giv- 
ing the  stakes  the  same  numbers  as  the  stations  on  the  cen- 
ter line  opposite  which  they  stand,  a  line  parallel  to  the 
center  line,  based  on  the  two  stakes  and  nails  first  set. 


VIII.       STAKING  OUT    \  GRADE  75 

Check  the  measurement  from  one  of  these  stakes  first  set, 
by  measuring  the  closing  distance  to  the  other.  If  the 
measurement  is  not  near  enough  correct,  review  the  work 
and  correct  the  errors. 

Set  up  the  level.  Find  H.  I.  by  taking  a  rod  reading  on  a 
B.  M. 

Decide  how  high  above  grade  the  top  of  any  2"  x  2"  stake 
on  the  line  parallel  to  the  center  line  shall  be. 

Add  this  height  to  the  elevation  of  grade  at  that  place. 

Subtract  this  sum  from  H.  I.  for  rod  reading  on  the  2"  x  2" 
stake. 

Drive  the  2"  x  2"  stake  till  the  rod  gives  this  reading  when 
held  up  on  it.  The  target  may  be  set  at  once  at  the  read- 
ing, if  a  target  rod  is  used. 

Use  the  same  distance  above  grade  for  as  long  a  run  as  prac- 
ticable. 

Use  numbers  that  will  reduce  to  simple  terms  in  feet  and 
inches. 

Reduce  the  decimal  of  the  rod  reading  to  inches. 

Mark  the  height  in  feet  and  inches  of  the  top  of  the  2"  x  2" 
stake  above  grade,  on  that  stake,  or  on  the  witness  stake 
beside  it. 

Do  the  same  for  each  2"  x  2"  stake  at  the  time  it  is  being 
set  by  the  transient  party. 

Sometimes  on  a  marsh  all  the  grade  stakes  for  a  ditch  can 
be  set  at  the  same  height  above  grade.  Do  this  where 
practicable,  and  give  the  workmen  sticks  cut  to  this  height. 


VIII.     STAKING  OUT  A  GRADE. 

83.    Information. 

In  grading,  or  paving,  a  street,  stakes  must  be  set  as  needed 
and  not  too  many  set  at  one  time.  Enough  of  them  must 
be  set  to  define  the  cross  section  of  the  street  plainly  for 
the  workmen.  This  may  mean  as  many  as  seven  lines  of 
grade  stakes  to  be  carried  along  the  street. 


76  VIII.      STAKING  OUT  A  GRADE 

In  some  street  gutters  four  or  five  lines  of  grade  stake:-  may 
be  needed  on  a  seemingly  narrow  strip  of  ground. 

Grade  stakes  for  curbs,  either  on  streets  or  elsewhere,  are 
troublesome  to  keep  in  place  because  they  must  be  set  close 
to  the  curb  trench,  and  be  used  for  line  also.  Drive  two 
long  stakes  a  little  back  from  the  trench,  if  practicable, 
and  securely  nail  to  them  a  strip  of  wood  pointing  cross 
wise  of  the  curb  and  extending  to  its  work  edge,  face,  or 
corner.  Make  the  end  of  the  stick  line  and  the  bottom  of 
it  grade.  Some  times  pieces  of  iron  pipe  4  ft.  long,  or 
more,  can  be  used  for  curb  grades.  Set  the  top  to  grade 
and  the  outer  side  parallel  to  line  of  curb. 

Sidewalk  grades  in  a  built  up  district  in  a  city  oftentimes  may 
be  marked  on  watertables,  stone  steps,  window  sills,  or  by 
spikes  or  nails  in  the  joints  of  brick  work. 

Grade  stakes  for  concrete  floors  may  be  small  and  left  in  the 
concrete.  They  should  be  set  as  needed,  with  their  tops 
to  grade. 

For  grades  for  buildings,  see  IX. 


IX.     STRAIGHT  LINE. 


INFORMATION. 

84.  Rem.     A  straight  line  may  be  run  by  fore  sights  or  by  back 

and  fore  sights.  By  fore  sights  marks  are  set  in  line  with 
the  instrument  point  and  another  before  it.  By  back  and 
fore  sights  marks  are  set  in  line  with  the  instrument  point 
and  another  back  of  it.  This  last  is  much  the  better  way 
and  is  the  one  commonly  used. 

The  plate  must  be  level.    Keep  sharp  watch  of  the  plate  level 
parallel  to  the  transit  axis. 

85.  By  Fore  Sights.     Set  up  the  transit  over  a  mark  on  the 

line.  Set  the  line  of  sight  on  a  mark  on  the  line  in  the  di- 
rection in  which  the  line  is  to  go.  Give  line  for  a  mark, 
as  a  nail  in  a  plug,  beyond  the  sight  mark  where  it  can 
be  seen  from  the  sight  mark.  While  the  plug  is  being 
driven  see  if  the  point  of  the  plumb  bob  hangs  to  the  mark 
beneath  the  transit,  see  if  the  plate  levels  read  level,  and 
see  if  the  line  of  sight  strikes  the  sight  mark.  Correct  the 
setting  of  the  transit  in  any,  or  all,  of  these  particulars, 
and  be  ready  to  give  line  as  soon  as  the  plug  is  driven. 
With  one  more  look  at  the  plate  level  parallel  to  the  transit 
axis  and  to  see  that  the  line  of  sight  strikes  the  sight  mark, 
give  line  for  a  mark  on  the  plug.  See  if  the  line  of  sight 
strikes  the  sight  mark.  If  not,  repeat  these  operations 
until  it  will.  Give  the  signal  "All  right."  Release  the 
spindle  clamp.  Reverse  the  transit  on  its  spindle.  Level 
it  if  needed.  Set  the  line  of  sight  upon  the  sight  mark. 
Locate  a  second  mark  beside  the  first  with  the  same  tests. 
Drive  a  small  nail  equidistant  from  the  two  marks  located. 
The  nail  will  be  on  the  line. 

Set  up  the  transit  over  the  sight  mark.     Use  the  new  mark 
as  a  sight  mark,  and  continue  the  line-  as  before. 


78  IX.      STRAIGHT   LINE 

86.  By  Back  and  Fore  Sights.  Set  up  the  transit  over  a  mark 
on  the  line.  Set  the  line  of  sight  on  a  mark  on  the  line  in 
the  direction  opposite  to  that  in  which  the  line  is  to  go. 
Reverse  the  telescope  on  the  transit  axis  and  give  line  for 
a  mark  in  advance,  as  a  nail  in  a  plug.  While  the  plug 
is  being  driven,  see  that  the  point  of  the  plumb  bob  hangs 
to  the  mark  under  the  transit,  see  if  the  plate  levels  read 
level,  and  reverse  the  telescope  on  the  transit  axis  and  see 
if  the  line  of  sight  strikes  the  back  sight  mark.  Correct 
the  setting  of  the  transit  in  any,  or  all,  of  these  particulars, 
and  be  ready  to  give  line  as  soon  as  the  plug  is  driven. 
With  one  more  look  at  the  plate  level  parallel  to  the  transit 
axis  and  to  see  that  the  line  of  sight  strikes  the  back  sight 
mark,  reverse  the  telescope  on  the  transit  axis  and  give 
line  for  a  mark  on  the  plug.  Reverse  the  telescope  on  the 
transit  axis.  See  if  the  line  of  sight  strikes  the  back  sight 
mark.  If  not,  repeat  these  operations  until  it  will.  Give 
the  signal  "All  right."  Release  the  spindle  clamp.  Re- 
verse the  transit  on  its  spindle.  Level  it  if  needed.  Re- 
verse the  telescope  on  the  transit  axis.  Set  the  line  of 
sight  on  the  back  sight  mark.  Reverse  the  telescope  on 
the  transit  axis  and  locate  a  second  mark  beside  the  first, 
with  the  same  tests.  Drive  a  small  nail  equidistant  from 
the  two  marks  located.  The  nail  will  be  on  the  line. 

Set  up  the  transit  at  the  new  mark.  Use  the  one  where  it 
stood  for  a  back  sight  mark  and  continue  the  line  as  be- 
fore. 

If  the  two  marks  located  by  either  of  these  methods,  as  above 
directed  are  not  at  the  same  distance  from  the  transit,  the 
nail  must  be  driven  midway  between  them.  By  doing  this 
the  first  two  marks  may  be  at  some  distance  apart  along 
the  line,  and  in  case  the  second  mark  comes  off  of  the  plug 
set  to  receive  them,  a  stake  may  be  driven  to  receive  it  far 
enough  back,  .or  forward,  of  the  plug,  to  admit  another 
plug  between,  without  disturbing  either,  and  the  nail  be 
driven  therein.  This  will  sometimes  save  considerable 
time. 


ix.     STRAIGHT  UM;  79 

If  the  transit  is  considerably  out  of  adjustment  it  may  take 
a  wide  plug  to  receive  both  of  the  first  marks. 

If  the  second  of  the  first  two  marks  comes  off  of  the  plug 
but  so  close  to  it  that  the  nail  will  come  on  the  plug,  shove 
a  stout  peg  into  the  ground  beside  the  plug,  to  receive  the 
second  mark.  This  saves  time. 

Rem.  In  running  a  straight  line  use  pickets,  or  sight  marks 
of  some  kind,  for  back  sighting  to.  This  is  better  than  a 
line  staff,  held  by  a  "Back  flag  man"  and  may  save  the  ser- 
vices of  such  a  person. 

Where  a  short  sight  cannot  be  avoided  use  a  nail,  point  of  a 
plumb  bob,  a  pencil  point,  or  some  similar  small  thing  to 
sight  to,  either  forward  or  backward.  The  nail  and  paper 
mark  is  a  goo'd  one,  only  use  a  small  nail. 

When  sights  must  be  short  and  obstructions  in  the  way  use 
a  plumb  line,  of  suitable  length  and  fineness  to  sight  to. 
It  may  be  held  steady  by  sticking  the  line  staff,  or  a  long 
stake,  in  the  ground  obliquely,  and  grasping  it  high  enough 
up  with  the  hand  holding  the  plumb  line.  By  changing 
the  inclination  of  the  staff  the  bob  may  be  held  over  a 
mark,  or  brought  into  line  from  the  transit. 

When  running  a  straight  line,  set  one  pair  of  opposite  leveling 
screws  on  the  line.  The  other  pair  will  then  stand  across 
the  line,  and  in  the  best  position  for  keeping  the  plate  level 
tube  parallel  to  the  transit  axis  reading  level.  This  level 
tube  is  the  more  important  of  the  two,  in  this  work.  It 
should  be  closely  watched  and  kept  reading  level.  After 
using  the  leveling  screws  for  this  purpose  the  reference 
sight  must  be  repeated. 


IX.     STRAIGHT  .LINE. 

FIELD  WORK. 
88.    Outfit. 

Transit. 

Line  staff. 

Axe.    6  plugs.     5  pickets.     Nails. 


80  IX.      STRAIGHT    LINE 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  be  liable  for  defects  found 
upon  their  return. 

89.    Directions. 

Select  a  place  open  to  the  sky,  where  a  straight  line  can  be 

run  for  from  a  half  a  mile  to  a  mile,  and  all  the  pickets  be 

seen  from  the  last  plug,  as  across  a  valley. 
Set  five  or  six  plugs,  not  less  than  500  ft.  apart. 
Use  the  Back  and  Fore  Sight  method. 
If  possible  refer  the  line  to  some  distant  mark,  or  object, 

in  the  rear. 
Set  up  the  transit  where  it  is  proposed  to  place  the  first  plug. 

Back  sight  to  the  distant  mark. 
Reverse  the  telescope  on  the  transit  axis  and  see  if  the  line 

of  sight  ranges  along  the  ground  where  it  is  proposed  to 

lay  out  the  line. 

If  not,  shift  the  transit  until  it  fits  this  range. 
Drive  the  first  plug  and   nail   in   it  accordingly.     Leave   a 

picket  there. 

Set  up  the  transit  over  this  first  nail. 
Back  sight  to  the  distant  mark,  ur  place  one  500  ft.  or  more, 

to  the  rear  for  this  purpose. 
Set  the  second  plug  and  nail  not  less  than  500  ft.  ahead  on 

line  by  the  back  and  fore  sight  method.     Leave  a  picket 

there. 

Set  up  the  picket  behind  the  eyepiece,  so  it  will  stand  firm. 
Put  the  plumb  bob  in  a  pocket,  and  draw  away  the  transit 

without  disturbing  the  picket. 
Set  up  the  transit  over  the  second  nail. 
Back  sight  to  the  picket  at  the  first  plug,  and  set  a  third 

plug  and  nail  not  less  than  500  ft.  ahead  on  line,  as  before. 

Leave  a  picket  there. 
Set  up  the  picket  at  the  second  plug  behind  the  eyepiece  and 

move  the  transit  to  the  third  nail. 
Set  up  the  transit  over  the  third  nail. 
Continue  the  line  as  before  until  five  or  six  plugs  and  nails 

have  been  set  in  the  manner  indicated,  always  backsight- 
ing  to  the  last  picket  even  if  all  the  others  can  be  seen. 


IX.      STAKING  OUT  A  BUILDING  8 1 

Set  up  the  transit  over  the  last  nail. 

Back  sight  to  the  most  distant  picket,  or  mark. 

See  how  near,  by  estimation,  the  vertical  cross  wire  comes 
to  bisecting  each  picket  in  the  order  of  their  numbers,  i,  2, 
3,  4,  &c.  Focus  the  objective  sharply  on  each  picket. 

Record  the  distance,  as  estimated,  that  the  line  of  sight  strikes 
away  from  the  line  at  each  picket,  showing  whether  it  is 
to  the  right  (R.)  or  left  (L.)  as  the  line  was  run. 

See  if  the  line  of  sight  still  strikes  the  most  distant  mark. 

If  not,  repeat  the  observations  till  it  will  and  correct  the  rec- 
ord to  conform  to  the  final  result. 

Release  the  spindle  clamp. 

Reverse  the  transit  on  its  spindle. 

Level  the  transit,  if  needed. 

Set  the  line  of  sight  on  the  most  distant  mark,  and  repeat 
the  observations,  as  before. 

Record  the  results  of  these  observations  beside  those  first  ob- 
tained. 

Calling  deviations  to  the  R.  -f,  and  those  to  the  L.  — ,  add 
with  their  signs  the  results  of  both  observations  at  each 
picket,  to  get  the  actual  deviation  of  the  line  of  sight  at 
each  picket. 

Record  these  final  results,  showing  which  is  R.  and  which  L.. 
beside  the  other  records  for  each  picket. 

This  gives  a  demonstration  of  the  trustworthiness  of  the 
method  and  the  precision  with  which  the  whole  work  has 
been  done. 


IX.     STAKING  OUT  A  BUILDING. 

INFORMATION. 

90.  Rem.  A  building  of  any  considerable  size,  or  of  an  irreg- 
ular plan,  can  be  more  accurately,  and  cheaply,  staked  out 
with  a  transit  and  measuring  set  and  a  level  and  leveling 
rod,  than  in  any  other  way.  Besides  the  work  will  be  more 

trustworthy. 


82  IX.      STAKING  OUT  A  BUILDING 

Kxamine  the  plans  critically  for  errors  in  dimensions, — all 
of  the  plans,  not  merely  the  foundation  plan.  See  that  the 
sum  of  the  interior  dimensions  plus  the  thickness  of  walls 
equals  the  exterior  dimensions,  every  where,  and  in  every 
way,  across  every  part  of  the  building.  Record,  in  full,  the 
results  of  this  examination  in  the  note  book,  whether  er- 
rors and  omissions  are  found,  or  not.  If  errors,  or  omis- 
sions, are  found  report  them  and  refuse  to  begin  staking 
out  until  the  errors  are  corrected,  and  all  omissions  supplied 
so  all  the  dimensions  can  be  fully  verified. 

Examine  the  elevations  and  sections  for  the  location  of  all 
grades,  such  as  sub  foundations,  footings,  watertables, 
ground  surfaces,  or  any  other  thing  whose  height  must 
be  known.  See  if  the  figures  agree.  Record,  in  full,  the 
results  of  this  examination.  Report  all  defects,  deficiencies, 
errors,  or  discrepancies,  and  refuse  to  begin  staking  out 
until  they  are  all  properly  taken  care  of. 

Ask  for  all  needed  explanations.  On  any  important  building 
all  corrections,  changes,  additions,  or  explanations,  should 
be  given  in  writing,  or  be  made  on  the  plans.  If  this  is 
not  done,  enter  in  the  note  book,  at  once,  all  such  verbal  in- 
formation, with  the  date,  and  source,  or  authority. 

Be  particular  not  to  begin  staking  out  until  all  the  plans,  and 
such  parts  of  the  specifications  as  relate  to  the  location, 
levels  for,  and  dimensions  of,  the  building  are  fully  and 
completely  understood.  The  specifications  and  plans 
should  agree,  or  be  made  to  agree,  upon  these  matters. 

Too  frequently  not  enough  care  is  taken  to  make  certain  re- 
garding the  matters  above  referred  to. 

Too  frequently  the  engineer  is  asked  to  stake  out  a  building 
in  a  "Rush."  This  he  should  refuse  to  do,  unless  he 
knows  the  plans  and  specifications  thoroughly  before  hand, 
or  is  relieved  of  all  responsibility  for  the  results  of  his  work 
by  a  written  and  signed  release.  An  engineer  should  never 
forget  that  the  word  "Rush''  stands  for  mistakes,  blunders, 
trouble,  and  dissatisfaction,  and  act  accordingly. 

Some  line  on  the  building  should  be  designated  as  the  one 
to  be  staked  out.  In  a  masonry  building  this  may  be  the 


IX.      STAKING  OUT  A  BUILDING  83 

brick  line,  the  face  of  the  water  table,  the  face  of  the  foun- 
dation wall  above  ground,  or  any  similar  one.  In  a  wooden 
building  if  may  be  the  face  of  the  foundation  wall,  the  out- 
side of  the  frame,  or  a  similar  one.  There  should  be  room 
enough  on  the  line  boards  for  laying  off  spaces  for  lines 
for  every  thing  outside  of  the  line  staked  out.  Such  are 
watertable,  foundation  walls,  and  footings.  The  same 
should  be  true  on  the  inside  of  the  building.  There  should 
be  room  for  the  thicknesses  of  walls,  for  footings  and  the 
like. 

Some  line  on  the  building  should  be  designated  as  the  one 
for  which  the  leveler  will  give  the  elevation.  In  a  frame 
building  this  is  commonly  the  top  of  the  foundation  wall. 
In  a  masonry  building  the  top  of  the  first  floor  joists  is 
used,  also  the  top  of  the  water  table,  the  top  of  the  finished 
foundation  wall,  or  some  similar  line.  The  builder  can  be 
accommodated  in  making  this  selection  but  there  should 
be  a  record  to  show  unmistakably  what  line  was  used,  and 
its  relation  to  other  lines  on  the  building. 


IX.     STAKING  OUT  A  BUILDING. 

FIEI<D    WORK. 

91.    Outfit. 

Transit. 

x  Measuring  set. 
Line  staff. 
Axe.    Short  stakes.     Nails,  36,  8d,  icxl,  and  2od.    Mason's 

line. 
2"x4"  scantling.     %"x6"  or  8"  boards,  surfaced  and 

with  one  edge  of  each  straight. 

Carpenter's  level.    Hand  saw.    Sledge,  maul,  or  stone  ham- 
mer. 

Shovel  or  spade.    Pick  axe.  or  grub  hoe,— surveyor's  style. 
Level. 


84  IX.      STAKING  OUT  A  BUILDING 

Leveling  rod. 
Axe.     Pegs.     Spikes. 

Examine  the  articles  as  issued,  or  be  liable  for  defects  found 
upon  their  return. 

92.    Directions. 

Mark  all  of  the  corners  of  the  building  by  nails  in  short 
stakes  driven  in  the  ground  till  firm.  Verify  the  measure- 
ments and  angles  till  no  more  can  be  done  to  make  sure 
all  of  the  nails  are  correctly  set. 

Stretch  a  mason's  line  from  nail  to  nail,  taking  a  turn  around 
each. 

See  if  anything  wrong  can  be  found.  If  so,  correct  it.  Re- 
peat the  work  till  no  fault  can  be  discovered. 

Set  2."  x  4"  scantling,  as  stakes,  in  the  ground,  high  enough, 
where  practicable,  to  reach  up  to,  or  a  little  above,  the  ele- 
vation to  be  given  with  the  level.  They  should  be  far 
enough  back  from  the  excavation  so  as  to  be  in  no  danger 
from  caving,  but  at  about  the  same  distance  from  the 
building.  They  should  stand  firm.  Drive  them  with  a 
sledge,  or  stone  hammer.  In  some  ground  holes  may  have 
to  be  dug  for  them.  There  must  be  at  least  two,  and  may 
be  three,  or  more,  in  a  group.  About  a  convex  corner 
three  or  more  stakes  are  set  so  that  boards  nailed  to  them 
will  be  about  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  walls  meeting 
there.  Similarly  for  a  reentrant  corner.  No  stakes  should 
be  set  within  the  limits  of  the  excavation,  as  a  rule.  Stakes 
may  be  set  to  hold  a  board  about  at  right  angles  with  a 
wall  to  receive  the  line  for  that  wall  on  its  projection  be- 
yond the  stakes. 

Nail  boards  diagonally  from  near  the  top  of  one  stake  to 
where  another  goes  in  the  ground.  Tie  the  stakes  together 
securely,  in  this  manner. 

With  the  level  and  rod  mark,  on  at  least  one  stake  in  a  group, 
the  elevation  of  the  reference  line  for  the  'levels  for  the 
building,  as  the  top  of  the  foundation  wall,  the  top  of  the 
water  table,  or  the  top  of  the  first  floor  joists,  or  whatever 
lino  is  used.  Chock  thoso  levels  fullv. 


IX.      STAKING  OUT  A  BUIIJDING  85 

Find,  or  make,  a  good  B.  M.  to  which  the  levels  for  the 
building  are  referred.  Have  this  B.  M.  entirely  outside  of 
the  work  where  by  no  possibility  it  can  be  disturbed.  Con- 
nect this  B.  M.  with  another  B.  M.  entirely  away  from  the 
locality.  Record  all  of  these  matters. 

Nail  the  straight  edge  of  a  board  to  the  level  mark  on  a 
stake,  straight  edge  up,  and  set  this  edge  level  with  the 
carpenter's  level.  Nail  the  board  to  another  stake,  and 
complete  the  nailing  with  four  nails  in  a  stake.  Thus  do 
every  where.  Saw  off  the  tops  of  the  stakes  even  with  the 
tops  of  the  boards. 

Transfer  the  lines  of  the  building  with  the  transit  from  the 
nails  in  the  short  stakes  in  the  ground  to  the  top  edges  of 
these  boards. 

Make  a  slight  cut  with  the  saw  across  the  top  of  the  boards 
at  the  line  marks,  only  just  deep  enough  to  take  a  mason's 
line. 

While  transferring  the  lines  to  the  boards,  extend  one,  or 
more,  of  these  lines  each  way  of  the  building  to  distant 
marks  that  cannot  be  disturbed,  for  future  reference. 
Measure  carefully  from  the  nails  in  the  stakes  first  set  on 
any  line,  each  way  to  these  reference  marks  on  that  line. 
Witnesses  for  the  corner  marks  of  the  building,  accurately 
measured,  may  also  be  used.  Record  all  these  matters 
fully,  so  the  position  of  the  building  on  the  ground,  or  any 
line  of  it,  can  be  quickly  replaced. 

With  a  rule  draw  out  a  witness  mark  from  each  saw  cut  on 
the  surfaced  side  of  the  line  boards  and  plainly  write  there- 
on a  brief  designation  of  what  line  of  the  building  the 
saw  cut  is  on,  as  "Brick  Line." 

Look  over  the  tops  of  all  the  line  boards  and  see  if  they 
^re  all  in  the  same  plane. 

Stretch  a  mason's  line  if!  the  saw  cuts  for  every  line  of  the 
building  they  mark. 

Look  over  these  lines  with  the  utmost  care  for  any  mistakes, 
or  faults,  of  any  kind.  They  should  all  lie  in  the  same 
plane.  Measurements  anywhere  between  them  should 
agree  with  the  plans. 


86  IX.      STAKING  OUT  A  BUILDING 

Having  done  evedything  that  can  be  thought  of  to  insim; 
the  correctness  and  security  of  the  work,  including  good 
records  of  everything  whatever,  the  building  must  be  left 
for  others.  If  the  sills  of  a  wooden  building  go  on  the 
.finished  foundation  walls  and  fit,  or  the  first  course  of 
cut  stone  work  in  a  masonry  building  goes  on  and  fits, 
the  anxiety  of  the  engineer  should  leave  him. 


IX.     STAKING  OUT  A  BUILDING. 


INFORMATION. 

93.  Rem.  On  small  buildings,  projections  which  are  rectangu- 
lar, polygonal,  or  circular,  and  of  no  great  size  may  be 
conveniently  laid  out  by  templates,  it  being  necessary  only 
to  mark  the  points  where  the  templates  join  the  main  struc- 
ture. 

Circular,  or  polygonal,  forms  of  considerable  size  may  be 
sometimes  laid  out  by  marking  their  centers  within  the  lim- 
its of  the  excavation  and  marking  the  points  where  they 
join  the  rest  of  the  structure.  Such  centers  should  be 
marked  in  a  most  substantial  manner.  An  old  boiler  flue, 
or  piece  of  2"  or  3"  iron  pipe,  may  be  driven  plumb,  the 
top  to  the  proper  elevation,  and  a  plug  put  in  the  top  on 
which  the  center  may  be  marked,  and  closely  witnessed  by 
measurements  to  other  marks  as  references.  Even  this 
may  not  answer  in  some  cases. 

Large,  and  especially  irregular  buildings  may  be  laid  out 
by  coordinates.  This  is  a  satisfactory  way  because  of  the 
numerous  checks  it  furnishes,  and  they  are  needed.  Select 
convenient  axes  of  reference."  These  may  be  lines  of  the 
building  itself,  or  frequently  one  of  them  may.  In  place 
of  axes  of  coordinates  the  building  may  be  surrounded  by 
a  rectangle  that  can  be  laid  out  on  the  ground,  and  points 
on  the  plan  referred  to  the  sides  of  this  rectangle, — really 
coordinates.  Number  all  the  points  on  the  plan  that  are  to 


IX.       STAKING  OUT   A   UL'Il.Ol  NG  87 

be  marked  on  the  ground.  Select  the  principal  axis  of 
reference,  anywhere  across  the  building  in  any  convenient 
direction,  or  entirely  without  it,  and  also  the  origin  of  co- 
ordinates, or  measurements,  on  this  line.  Record  thesr 
facts.  From  the  plans  compute  and  fully  verify,  beyond  a 
question,  the  coordinates  of  every  point  thereon  which  j- 
to  be  laid  out.  Record  the  numbers  of  all  of  these  points 
with  their  coordinate's  against  those  numbers.  Lay  out  th«: 
principal  axis  of  reference  on  the  ground  and  mark  tl> 
origin  of  measurement.  Measure  off  on  this  line  the  ci-- 
ordinate  along  that  line  of  each  point  of  the  plan  and  mark 
the  measurement  by  a  nail  in  a  stake  in  succession,  and 
lay  out  a  line  at  right  angles  with  the  principal  axis.  Oi» 
this  line  measure  the  other  coordinate  of  the  designated 
point  and  mark  that  point  by  a  small  nail  in  a  stake  num- 
bered for  it.  Measure  between  these  nails  along  the  lines  of 
the  building.  Record  the  results,  and  compare  them  with 
corresponding  dimensions  on  the  plan.  They  should  agre« 
with  the  plan.  This  gives  one,  or  more,  checks  on  even 
line.  This  method  can  be  used  with  success  to  keep  ^ 
building  on  a  lot  barely  large  enough  to  receive  it,  withou> 
staking  out  much,  if  any,  of  it. 

In  the  simpler  structures  the  work  may  be  verified  as  follows 
Lay  out  the  controlling  angle,  or  angles,  with  the  transit 
Locate  the  various  marks  by  measurement.  Use  the  transit- 
to  test  the  angles  thus  obtained.  Or,  lay  out  various  line* 
with  the  transit  and  locate  marks  thereon  by  measure 
ments.  Verify  the  work  by  measuring  closing  distance1* 
between  the  marks  set  in  this  manner,  the  same  as  if  the 
points  had  been  laid  out  by  coordinates,  as  above  outlined 


REFERENCES. 


Gillespie's  Surveying,   1851   to  date.     Revised  by  Cady   Staley. 

1887. 
Published  by  D.  Appleton  &  Co.     New  York,  N.  Y. 

Surveying.     Daniel  Carhart,  C.E.     Western  University  of  Penn- 

\    sylvania.     1887. 
Published  by  Ginn  &  Co.    Boston,  Mass. 

Theory  and  Practice  of  Surveying.    J.  B.  Johnson,  C.  E.    Wash- 
ington University,  St.  Louis,  Mo.    1886  to  date.     Chap 
ter  on  Geodesy. 
Published  by  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Plane  Surveying.     Wm.  G.  Raymond,  C.E.     1896. 
Published  by  American  Book  Co. 

Field  Engineering.     \Vm.  H.  Searles,  C.E.     Railroads.     Pocke* 

book.     Excellent  tables. 
Published  by  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Topographic  Surveying.    Herbert  M.  Wilson,  C.E.     1900  to  date 

Part  V,  Geodesy.     Chapter  XLJ,  Camera  Surveying. 
Published  by  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Plane  Surveying.    P.  C.  Nugent,  C.E.    Syracuse  University,  1902 
Published  by  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Surveying.     Breed  &  Hosmer.     1907. 

Published  by  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Advanced  Surveying.     Breed  &  Hosmer.     1908. 

Published  by  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Plane  Surveying.    J.  C.  Tracy,  C.E.     1908.     Pocket  Manual. 
Published  by  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  New  York,  N.  Y. 


KKI-KKKNCKS  89 

Manual  of  Land  Surveying.     F.  Hodgman.     Pocket  book.     Legal 

subjects. 
Published  by  the  author.  Climax,  Mich. 

Manual  of  U.  S.  Land  Survey.    Instructions  for  original  surveys. 
Published  by  General  Land  Office.  Washington,  D.  C. 

Photographic  Surveying.     E.  Deville,  Surveyor  General  of  Can- 
ada, 1889  to  date. 

To  be  obtained  of  the  Superintendent  of  Stationery,  Depart- 
ment of  Public  Printing  and  Stationery,  Ottawa,  Canada. 

Phototopographic  Instruments  and  Methods.  J.  A.  Flemer.    1906. 
Published  by  John  Wiley  &  Sons,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Law  of  Operations  Preliminary  to  Construction.     John   Cassan 

Wait.    Very  useful  to  surveyors  and  engineers. 
Published  by  John  Wiley  &  Sons.  New  York,  N.  Y.  ^ 


DO  ANY  OF  THESE  THINGS  FIT  YOU? 

Stop  ! 

Going  out  to  work  without  a  note  book  and  pencil. 

Stop! 

Going  out  to  work  without  all  the  information  to  be  had. 

Stop! 

Taking  instruments  out  to  work  without  first  knowing  their 
condition. 

Stop! 

Taking  instruments  out  to  work  without  all  necessary  acces- 
sories,— as  tripod,  plumb  bob,  reading  glass,  shade,  or 
adjusting  pin. 

Stop! 

Sighting  at  the  top  of  a  line  staff,  or  station  pole. 

Stop  ! 

Plumbing  up  with  a  line  staff.    Use  a  plumb  bob  and  line. 

Stop! 

Using  splinters,  and  twigs,  to  mark  stations  with.  Use  stakes, 
or  plugs. 

Stop! 

Using  stakes  for  plugs.  Use  plugs,  four  inches,  or  more, 
across,  driven  flush  with  the  ground. 

Stop! 

Pulling  up  plugs  till  through  with  them. 


DO   ANY  OF  THESE  THINGS   FIT  YOU?  91 

Stop! 

Leaving  any  stakes,  plugs,  or  other  marks,  temporarily  in 
use  while  making  a  survey,  to  be  mistaken  for  the  real 
marks  the  survey  was  made  to  obtain,  or  perpetuate. 
Knock  out  every  thing  else, — but  not  till  done  with  them. 

Stop  ! 

Removing  land  marks,  to  plant  others,  except  in  the  presence 
of  witnesses,  and  with  a  complete  record  of  every  one 
present,  and  every  thing  found,  done,  and  planted. 

Stop! 

Being  so  particular  to  read  the  leveling  rod  to  thousandths 
where  it  is  not  needed,  while  misreading  the  tenths  and 
feet.  The  thousandths  do  not  really  amount  to  so  very 
much  when  the  feet,  or  tenths,  or  both,  are  read  wrong. 

Stop! 

Making  hasty  jots  and  calling  it  a  record.  Make  a  record  to 
be  read,  understood,  and. not  mistaken,  by  a  stranger. 
Do  it  when  the  work  recorded  is  done,- — not  leave  it  to 
be  guessed  at  afterwards. 

Stop  ! 

Making  scattered,  confused,  or  mixed  up  notes.  Use  a  form, 
or  write  in  full. 

Stop! 

Using  an  instrument  the  instant  any  of  its  parts  work  hard. 
Find  out  what  the  matter  is  and  fix  it,  or  have  it  fixed. 

Stop  ! 

Leaving  things  around  on  the  work,  and  forgetting  them. 
This  delays  not  only  the  careless  person  who  forgets,  but 
others, — perhaps  stopping  the  whole  work. 


92  DO   ANY  OF  THESE  THINGS   FIT   YOU? 

Stop! 

Leaving  things  around  at  all, — to  be  picked  up  afterwards. 

Stop  ! 

Putting  things  away  in  any  kind  of  disorder. 

Stop! 

Putting  instruments,  or  tools,  of  any  kind,  away,  unfit  for 
immediate  use. 

Stop  ! 

Depending  on  others  to  make  good  any  careless  practices. 
Strive  to  do  things  as  well  as  they  can  be  done. 

Stop! 

Doing  things  "Good  enough/'  Do  them  so  no  man  can  bet- 
ter them. 

Stop! 

Trying  to  work  without  judgment, — endeavoring  to  mechan- 
ically follow  a  process.  Strive  to  become  able  to  make 
such  things  as  processes.  Processes,  methods,  learning, 
attainments,  are  properly  tools,  or  servants, — not  mas- 
ters. 

Stop! 

Being  satisfied  with  the  atainments  acquired  in  any  direction. 
What  has  been  accomplished  is  but  a  step  stone  to  some- 
thing more,  or  better. 


EXAMINATIONS. 

Outfit. 

To  write  with  ink. 

Triangles.    '   . 

Scale. 

Pencil  dividers. 

Pencil  eraser. 

Pencil, — No.  3. 

Write  all  of  the  subjects  for  examination,  with  •their  num- 
bers, on  the  first  leaf  of  the  blue  book. 

Write  with  ink.     Write  plain, — or  print. 

Use  well  drawn  diagrams. 

No  reports  of  examinations  given  out. 


CONDITIONED  STUDENTS. 

To  continue  their  work  until  able  to  write  correctly  on  all 
of  the  subjects  in  the  following  list : 

Measuring  with  steel  tapes. 

Reading  an  angle. 

Traversing. 

Setting  up  a  transit  and  a  level. 

Peg  levels. 

Verniers. 

Least  reading. 
Reading  a  vernier. 

Profile  leveling. 
Running  a  straight  line. 


0  8  1' 


•Hit!! 

AA    001270146    2 


BRARY 
UNTV,  ORNIA 


